Opened drain and it stalled out

[69Roadrunner]

It is hard to see the rod when installing the pump, why I do it the way I do, but others have been successful without removing the plate.

Hello!! I changed out the Lift Pump this afternoon and OMG!!! What a difference!! Like going from a 6 cylinder to a BBC!!! I can get up to 65mph so much faster, like a driving a normal vehicle!! Everything went super easy. Took me maybe 2hrs in the 30-degree temps outside. Thanks again for all the advice and info!!!