I have never done a 68RFE but on the very similar 545RFE you can get the front cover off easily by removing the pan, filter, and valve body and gently tapping at it from the back.
Nice job :-D, You didn't use a lot of force on the "paint can lid" cover, so i can't see how it could get damaged, some people don't have enough patience. So the internal filter was sucking some air, lucky you found the fault :-D. I still like the "T" bar for some jobs, i must be old fashoned lol. Ed, if i had any envy in me (Not possible), i could be envyous about your smashing workshop. it's just not nice to work by the roadside in the cold and rain. But you have put so much work and money into it, i'm so chuffed you have it :-D :-D
The filter issue was discovered after the pump was ordered. Hopefully it was a combination of the pump and filter creating the problem and now is fixed. The shop was a dream of mine for 30 years. We built our house and always had the barn location in mind. I wasn't going to build the shop until I could do it the way I wanted without compromise, within reason of course lol. I think I succeeded and am very happy with the outcome. Thanks for the comment!!
I know it sounds like im just going on, but not having to work in the cold/rain is just fantastic, you can take more time to do an even better job, lighting and heat at the flick of a switch :-D. ' Oh yes i think you have acheaved an excellent goal :-D. Sorry ill shutup about it now lol.
what was the condition this transmission was presenting before you began this work? what symptoms did it present that led you to believe the torque converter was in lock up