If you are taking the engine cover off you may as well do the friction plates at the same time.
Not a difficult job at all, unfortunately you will have to drop the oil after having just changed it. As long as you have a torque wrench that goes low enough and be aware that the metal plates between the friction plates have a bevel on one edge (can't remember whether it faces to or away from the engine) follow the order in which they came off when putting them back on you'lll be fine.
Buy a genuine gasket for the cover, pattern stuff is just false economy.
