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Is the best/easiest way to remove my M38 transmission by pulling the entire powertrain per the service manual? I pulled it >20 years ago when I was a young man just by removing it under the Jeep and pulling to back and down. I need to rebuild the T90 to fix the popping out of 2nd gear and re-seal the transfer case which is now getting bad. I hate to remove the engine when it is fantastic and in great running shape.

Thoughts?

Pulling the power plant as a unit is relatively easy and shouldn't affect the way it runs. The manual will list all the things to disconnect to pull it. I guess if you have a lift and the proper transmission jack for removal and re-installing it might be equal in work. Depends on what equipment you have the the help that is available to you.
I have removed my power plant twice since I finished the rebuild and without a lift or a transmission jack it has worked well.
Ralph

As RG mentions above a lot depends on your shop equipment and helpers if any. When I had a real shop to work in with lift and good tranny jacks designed for use under a lift I used the remove transfer/tranny assembly as a group from below. Both removal routes require the same initial steps, disconnect drive shafts, shift levers, rear mount bolts and emergency brake cables/springs. Then support rear of engine if doing it on a lift. It helps to remove the two top tranny cover plate halves and the shifter cover. Since my first GPW in 1971 I have done it more often from underneath then as a powerplant removal exercise. That covers 53 years of jeep work but now at the ripe old age of 72 and no lift in my garage I pull the powerplant!