Dear John;
It should (the plate)come off on them all (37-62) W/O removing the gear. There's generally so much sludge there the opening is concealed.
It may have been made that way so the crank could be changed with the engine in the chasis/vehicle. The old low pressure AKA 'babit pounders' lost cranks all the time "back then".
I've never done it that way, but it was in the 30s & 40s, so I've been told. All shops had a 'pit' but only the fancy ones had a engine hoist. We had to do an "in frame" overhaul in High School auto shop in 1959.
