Engine/transmission swap procedure help

Many thanks to those who contributed to my other post "code P0743 help!!!" based on the hole in piston #2, and the transmission erratic behaviour problems I've decided to swap out both. I can get both the engine and transmission for $600 to $700. So,

According to the manual, some kind of holding fixture is needed and the engine and transmission is removed as an assembly from the bottom. With other cars, I've lifted both from out the top. Can I do this from the top? I don't have a way to lift the car high enough to pull from below.

You can pull it out from the top. If you pull it out together your gonna have to wiggle it to get it out, but then again you usually have to with any car.

You can pull it out from the top. If you pull it out together your gonna have to wiggle it to get it out, but then again you usually have to with any car.
Can I get away with removing just one halfshaft and pulling the transmission out of the other? And if so, which one? Any posted procedures for doing this? I've searched around and didn't find much but some of you guys have been around longer than I have. Thanks.

Here is a post that may help you out...
http://forums.neons.org/viewtopic.php?t=238129

Can I get away with removing just one halfshaft and pulling the transmission out of the other? And if so, which one? Any posted procedures for doing this? I've searched around and didn't find much but some of you guys have been around longer than I have. Thanks.

Is this a first gen? If so, I think you're going to have to pull both axles, at least I did. I can't imagine being able to mate the trans to the axle rather than vice versa. The drivers side axle is a royal pain to remove as there is no room to insert a pry bar.

Get a Haynes manual, it's worth it for something like this. One thing it is wrong about; you don't need to remove the hood, just have someone hold it open all the way and you have plenty of room.

I pulled the engine/trans unit on my daughters neon about a month ago. Since she had totalled the car, I did a "destructive pull", e.g. no labeling, cutting hoses and cables etc and was able to get it out in about 2 hours. Really not a bad job compared with the Avenger motor I'm working on now!

Thanks for the info. I started getting it prepped by pulling the axles, removing the radiator draining fluids etc. Won't be able to pull it until next weekend, but it doesn't look to bad of a job. As for the Haynes manual suggestion, I gotta say that those manuals suck. They show so little detail and tend to gloss over procedures. The only good thing is the torque specs provided. The only good manuals are the factory ones, and they cost big $

The only good manuals are the factory ones, and they cost big $What year is your car?

What year is your car?
It's a '98 2.0 SOHC with the 3 speed Auto transmission.