2000 Intrigue transmission filter change

I just replaced the transmission filter and gasket on my 2000 Intrigue, along with 7 new qts of Dexron III ATF. All went well, I followed the advice of an earlier poster on another related thread, and used a little $15 hand pump from Advance Auto to pump out the first few quarts. Found sludge on the bottom of the pan and on the magnet, but no discernible metal or rubber parts or shavings.
The only problem I ran into, was that I could not get the little rubber and metal filter seal out of the bore in the transmission case. I tried to get a small screwdriver blade between the seal lip and the aluminum case, but started burring things up, and didn't want to continue that. Since the original seal appeared to be in good shape, I quit trying to remove it, and decided to re-use it, twisting the filter up into it as usual. The seal didn't look as if it wears, and it doesn't look as if the filter can go anywhere wrong once the filter pipe is twisted up into the seal.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best way to get the filter seal out the next time? That, and the uncertainty of just when I was done twisting and pressing the new filter up into the seal were the only puzzles on this job. I plan to do this again soon, with another filter and 7 qts, and install the 4T65-E shift kit from ZZ Performance that BNaylor discussed in an earlier post.
Any advice or comments? Thanks.

I think the seal will be fine, as long as it wasnt damaged or anything. I didnt replace mine when I changed my fluid last and thats been like 60-70k miles and no issues. The only problem I had was breaking the neck of the old filter off in the hole...which took forever to get out. It was brittle I guess and the first good pull it broke at the neck.

As for getting it out, I have no idea. Sorry.

Hope you enjoy that shift kit though, Im sure you will.

I had the same problem. The heat causes the rubber to stick to the bore and there's no way to pry it out without doing some pretty good damage to the tranny case...

You have to take a flat-head screwdriver and press it up against the metal flange of the gasket, then take a hammer and gently tap the screwdriver until the gasket collapses about half way in. Repeat on the other side. At this point you should be able to take some needle-nose pliers and pull it out.

If you were careful enough, there will only be minor marks around the inlet bore from the screwdriver...