Are you sure you have a crash box or an sm420? If you have a 235,from a later than 1947 it might be a am 420. This could have happened during the previous rebuild.
The issue you may have is where the pedals are mounted. On a 46 they mount on the bell housing. On later years they mount some other way. You should also verify the year of the engine. I have been told a 47 bell housing bolts to the 235 and has a bell housing drilled for the pedal mounting.
I’m telling you this in case you may want to upgrade to the sm420. It is a great upgrade. It will require fitting a new drive shaft and enlarging the hole for the shift lever.
I agree with HRL pull the grill radiator and supports and go in from the front. It may be easier to pull the transmission before the engine. The easiest way to do this is with a transmission floor Jack
