yes, you can remove that cover with the motor still installed.
Its kind of a pain, i remember theres a bolt at the bottom front, but you can still get to it with alittle effort. I removed it, then fired it up...you could see and feel the oil coming off the flywheel....i'd check everything i could before i pulled the motor...If you pull the front nose casting off, things are easier to get to....
I went ahead and re-did everything while i had the motor out...ofcourse i had to paint it (basecoat/clearcoat)...the last pic i took was before i put the body parts on....go figure.
metalrain