Ive re-expoxied mine before and they are still going.
You can also pick them up from wrecker places.
To inspect you would need to pop the flywheel. You need a proper flywheel puller for that, not one of those jaw ones as they just bend the flywheel.
Back the nut off but not the whole way as it will stop the flywheel hitting you if it takes a lot of torque to remove it.
The puller will need to have 3 bolt holes on it like a harmonic balancer and make sure you get at least grade 8 bolts and you thread them deep but not so deep you screw into the electronics below it. Dont use a steering wheel puller as two bolts aint enough, These things go on at least 100 foot pounds and get quite attached to where they have being for years
Once you have popped the flywheel, look for the flywheel key (woodruff key). Its crucial to be used to get the timing of the engine right as its all done by the magnets spinning in the flywheel in time with crankshaft position.
When done, reinstall flywheel lining up the key groove in the flywheel and torque down to the proper torque reading, too light its come lose and engine will stall out of time, too tight and you damage the crankshaft taper and it will go crooked at go out of balance.
Crankshaft taper must be absolutely clean, no grease or anything.
Check the wires when you are in there as they often get frayed/corroded and cause problems and check the screws that hold the plate down to the top of the engine, they can rattle lose over time