273 Coolant leak help

The crank shaft seal allows very little upward movement of the timing cover. So getting onto the pan lip aint easy. I have used a couple of long drifts through bolt holes to lift the timing cover, and made it happen but... I risk damaging the shaft seal when doing that.
Hell of a lot easier with GMs little sheet metal cover. I pull their 2 dowel pins and poke my drifts in those holes. Piece of cake.
Gamble, get lucky, pat yourself on the back, versus start over.