4T65E/4T65E-HD Teardown Question

[tekkdrone]

I'm working on a 1998 Buick Regal GS with 135,000 miles, an L67 engine, and a 4T65E-HD transmission and recently diagnosed a failure of the forward band. (The servo contact point and the first inch of the band were in the pan.)

My question is this: Can the forward band be accessed for replacement from the driver side case extension on a 4T65E?

Physically, it's right there where the differential is, at that end of the case. The only other method of access is through the main cover on the driver side, and that involves a full transmission overhaul to get to, something my garage isn't equipped for.

I'd like to avoid unnecessarily tearing down the passenger side steering and drive hardware and the transmission case extension only to find after removing the differential that the band is trapped. If the part is inaccessable then i'll probably go the route of a GM remanufactured/warrantied transmission through a buddy of mine.