Awesome find!!
As others have said, no paint or fluffing!!
When I was young this was a routine job in the dealership, on any small or big block.
Two approaches,
1. Crack the pan bolts loose except at the rear, carefully leverage the pan down far enough to R&R the cover. Re-use the front pan seal with some discreet sealer, a little more at the corners.
2. Don't loosen the pan, pry the cover off, trim the corners off the inner cover pan seal channel (I know!!
). Use original pan front seal and discreet use of sealer. Use a drift punch on each side to leverage cover back into place.
If done properly, no leaks. Use OEM or black cover gasket, NOT a blue Fel-Pro!
Bill W