Take out the down pipes and it then just ends up being exactly the same as pulling the transmission on a A4 1.8t.

You have to remove the downtubes or you cant get the trans back far enough. You will most likely break or strip the studs on the exhaust manifolds so get ready to drill out some studs to replace with bolts and nuts.

I have done several O1A transmissions with nothing but a very tall set of jack stands and a low profile ($59 at harbor freight) trans jack.

I have done them in under a day but thats non-stop work.

The hardest part of the job is removing the down pipes. Pulling the actual transmission doesn't take more then 1-2 hrs. Takes me less then 1 hr to pull mine on jack stands, laying on my back and using 2 floor jacks to lower the transmission.

thanks man, ill be doing it this summer most likely

I find it easier to just pull off the fron end and remove the engine/tranny as a unit, then you have plenty of room.
Rod

I kicked ^^^^that idea^^^^ around when I did mine. I kinda wished I'd gone that way.

i just dont watn it to me too much trouble. i dont wanna spend a whole weekend on it. but if thats what it takes then so be it.