1988 Front Main Seal

[cat345hoe]

I would like to change the front main seal in my 1988 truck. It has the 22r motor and the chilton manual says you have to take the timing chain cover off to do this, why cant you just pull it out from the front. that would save alot of work, also the truck only has 104,000 miles on it what else should i watch out for.

thanks so much!