I want to replace the door locks but when I took the door panel off apparently the access to the latch and lock cylinder is right in the path of the window support. Has anyone done this?

There is a small access panel at the bottom the door in the frame with 3 small 7mm bolts in it and a plastic cover. What is this for? Its look like an escape access panel specifically for reaching the rods in the door latch and lock cylinder but I figure I d ask while the weather is still between hot and cold before I take it off and see what I am looking at.

 

haven't had to on mine yet but I've done plenty on newer vehicles, its usually just a matter of removing the bolts and wrestling it out

 

Nah, not the same. The support pillar for the window is in the way of the latch and the door lock. In other cars you never have to take the window out to do this job, but in this cars it appears to be so.
But on this car there is an access panel in the side of the doors. I want to know what that is for.