If you find an old time transmission shop, they can remove the transmission without removing the engine.  I have had it done, but never done it myself.  The trick is to pull the transmission out in 3 pieces and reinstall it the same way.  I know two shops in my area that do this and I am sure there are many shops run by old timers who know the procedure.  Just a thought to keep you from having to pull the engine and transmission out as a unit.

i helped a friend take a transmission out of a 56 vic a couple months ago he replaced the pump seal last winter when restoring the car and it leaked like hell.the o ring was shot in the torque converter.if i had to pull an engine i would replace this as well.not a big job.its sure a handful taking an automatic out of a 56 ford.even on a hoist and 2 of us.

I have a 3 speed Fordo in our P code 56 Ranch Wagon. It is a medium case unit and with the help of a Fordomatic shop manual and a friends lift, we were able to remove the transmission while leaving the bell housing attached to the motor and the motor in the car. You do need an under lift transmission jack so you can tilt the tranny at the right angle to get it out. It's a tight fit and may not be doable with a T-Bird.  A complete rebuild kit was less than $100.00

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

Hi, in Long Beach CA . it cost about $150.00 to send out the converter for rebuild, to rebuild the front pump $100.00, $350.00 to R&R plus the labor to install the pump (15 min)
and yes I know the cost of a shop, I currently have a 9500 ft building and 41,000 ft of land.  

the canadian coment  is bs,most canadian bird owners are cheap and feel that we fellow canadians should work for nothing,
and yes i am canadian. would not touch the work for less than 100 cn pr hr. and would bet you need a new front pump and drive tang repair job on the torque  would be close to 2000 to do it right.  

Hey Cliff I wished you lived close by. Id pay you - here in Canada we get ripped off for everything. Its hard to find mechanics out here who knows these cars.

Guys, it takes me 1 hour to pull a Bird engine, about 1 hour to drain, pull the converter cleanup and replace the seal, and about 2 more hours to finish the job, tell those shops to get lost, this is an easy job on a Saturday, cost of parts about $10.00

I ran into a similiar situation on a 56 Victoria with a Fordomatic . Odometer was running backwards because someone had installed the wrong speedometer gear on a previous rebuild. No matter what I tried , I could not get enough clearance to pull just the tailshaft housing back and drop it down to get to the gear. I also ended up pulling out engine and trans together  just to replace the gear.  

If its only leaking U don't need a rebuild. Probably the front Pump Seal and Shifter Arm  Seals ( which can be done without removing Transmission. Check around and try and find a  shop that works on older Vehicles.

  

I guess I should have mentioned its a tbird. they gotta pull the motor to get the tranny out. the cost is about 3500 +

1000 -1500 to re & re motor and 1800 + for a rebuild.. they recommend if you pull the motor..... it has about 38,000 miles on a rebuild from 1994