I dropped the oil pan on my 70 Charger (with the 440 engine in the car) to replace the rear main seal. I purchased a rope seal to replace the leaking seal. I was surprised to see that the existing seal was a rope seal.

Is it possible to take the upper half of the rope seal out without removing the crank? If so what method works?

If not, should I just replace the bottom rope with new and button it up?

Thx
Tom