It's been 30 years since I rebuilt a 235 / 261 so I figured I better look about the front seal.
On ebay is about 26 or so 235 timing covers, some look new, some are dirty and old.
But all appear to show the seal goes in from the balancer side of the cover, so the oil pan and cover should not have to be removed to replace the front seal from what I can see.
If the timing cover gasket has to be replaced, then the oil pan has to come down to get to the two screws that hold the timing cover on from the inside.
If he plans to replace the rear seal he will have the pan off anyway and I think it would be a good idea to go ahead and replace the timing cover gasket as well as the seal.
Using a micro sleeve on the balancer would be a good idea too especially if there is a groove worn in the balancer where the seal rides.
Good advice about how to center the seal before tightening all the bolts. And some fix the timing cover so that they can install the two hardest to get to bolts from the outside rather than having to pull the pan to get to them.
