Rear main and torque converter... leave in truck, or yank engine?

So Boy Wonder got a new truck. (It's a little late for this board, but the principles apply).

We just chased down a no-start issue, as being a combination of a dead fuel pump and Mopar electronic Ignition parts being weak. We replaced the cap, rotor, ignition box, ballast resistor and voltage regulator for good measure.

Truck fired right up! Yay!

Went to back it out of the shop and up the driveway, and it won't... either the trans is slipping, or that bad vibration we've got is the torque converter going away. According to the Previous Owner, it picked up a vibration on the way home from the swap meet... it was running fine, then there was a vibration. It comes when the truck is in Park or driving.
Thoughts are, torque converter or cracked flex plate.

Tonight, it also started ******* out a very steady drip of oil off the back of the block. It's either the oil pressure sender up top (which I'll check tomorrow) or the rear main seal.

So, the question is this: Drop the trans and oil pan in the truck, and change the rear main and torque converter, or pull the engine and replace all the gaskets, spray-bomb it and put the whole thing back in as a unit?

It should be noted he's 17, horribly impatient and more than just a little bummed that the truck we bought developed a bunch of problems the day after we bought it, so he's looking to get it on the road as quick as possible.

-Brad

 

No reverse? What's the budget like?

 

Whatever will be easier with the tools and space you have
Quickest probably remove trans, best probably removing engine

 

I would pull the engine, replace whatever parts are needed after all if you just drop the pan, and change the flex plate/torque converter, you may overlook some other problems.

 

17 year old high school kid's budget.
Meaning, he can learn to park so he never has to back up. Just like we all have at one time or another!

-Brad