so i’m in the middle of replacing my Gs rear main due to light leak. i already replaced the upper oil pan due to previous owner breaking a piece connecting to bell housing and wanted to avoid dropping it again and replacing straight from tranny side and finding the usual difficulty as it seems everywhere with the bottom seal not wanting to fit without dropping the pan. Has anyone found a way to install that particular crescent seal without dropping the pan?

also if i did have to drop the pan again would a 2 point hoist be suitable enough to hold the motor in place properly?

You can replace the RMS without dropping the upper pan, it's a messy pain in the butt though, you will get RTV everywhere getting it back in.

If you do drop the upper pan just use an engine bar to support the engine, the two big bolts in the middle of the timing chain cover are used as motor mount bolts when this engine is transversely mounted in the Altima/Maxima so that's a good place to attach. I sling the headers for rear support with Herculine 2500 but there's a lot of options for the rear.

update , read up on your response and got new seal in. Did not have to drop pan just took a bit of finesse and love taps holding the oil pan seal in place to squeeze thru