Well.
Having done my bit (I think) in assisting my dear wife by being dragged to the wallpaper shop to look at god knows how many pattern books and selecting samples, that are now bluetac'd around the bedroom to see what one we (she ) likes the best.
I did manage to get back down the garage, got the nose off, rad out and set about getting the dam front pulley of. Is it me or is it just plain daft that to get the fan belt off you have to take off the engine mount bolts to jack up the engine just to get space to slip it off the pulley's.
Anyway,having got better access I found that an old 'C' spanner, that I had lying around fitted into the holes located in the groove of the pulley. With trusty blowtorch and a can of freeze spray in hand, 'C' spanner in place, I heated the outside of the pulley and sprayed the inside of the pulley towards the thread, a sharp hit with the hammer on the 'C' spanner and it suddenly gave up it's grip and spun off. Back to the jack and raise the engine to clear the front cross-member the pulley came all the way off, (why AC did not just give enough space at the front for this is and getting the fan belt on/off is beyond me).
Now, I can see the old seal and it is spinning in situ so the oil is escaping round the outside of the old metal seal. So off under the car down the pit and undo all those sump bolts etc etc. Drop sump (nice and clean inside very little sludge in the deep part), pop old seal out, clean up mating surface, clean off old sump gasket, install new seal of the rubber type, as supplied by Rod Briggs, apply a smear of PU adhesive to outer edge of the seal and slip in to place. Fit new sump gasket, fit sump as so far, Bob's your uncle.
I have had a check on the flywheel rubber from the bottom of the flywheel housing and all look good so not taking the engine out to do them.
Might get down garage again tomorrow but sounds like I've got the go and assist in buying the 'Misty Sage' chalk based paint (oh and I've got to apply it to the wall with drips!!!). Ho hum, maybe Saturday then and I'll have a clean up of the oil spray around the front and start to reassemble.
Cheers G