I am girding up my loins to attack this task.
Removing the closure plate is obviously the big issue, hopefully without having to drop the front of the subframe. I have been reading around a bit and trying to look ( both from underneath and via the top engine aperture) to see what this entails.
Am I right in thinking the plate is in two bits - one about the size of a postcard and a smaller one with four slots to take the two handbrake and two gear cables. Do I only have to remove the smaller one? If that is right, then there are only four bolts to be removed - two at the bottom and two half way up. there seems to be a fifth at the top left hand corner but (presumably) the plate can be slid down to release it.
This is a photo I found on Ebay.
Please do correct anything I have got wrong or offer any helpful hints.
Thanks