I've got two 98 Jettas sitting in my yard.  One is decent, but missing the transmission.  The other is pretty much trashed, but has good running gear.  I'm trying to get the transmission out of the second one and put it in the first.  They are both 2.0 ABA engines with 5 speeds.

What's the trick to getting the transmission out once it's loose?  I think the flange for the passenger side CV Joint is hanging on the flywheel when I try to pull it away from the engine.  Is there a certain way it has to twist or tilt?

What's the procedure for removing the flange?  I bought a Haynes manual, but it has been pretty useless so far.  Anyway, it looks like there is a removable cap/seal in the center of flange.  I'm assuming it has to pop out to get at whatever is holding the flange in place . . . but I can't get it to budge.

I can't reccomend removing the flange. It's not required and the 020s are held in with a snap ring which is a major pain to try and handle in the car.

Here is what we do.

Support engine from above

Remove rear trans mount from transmission and subframe.

Loosen all bolts from engine including starter

Remove drivers axle from car.

Remove passenger axle from transmission flange only.

Use widow maker jack in between subframe and motor to push it toward the radiator about 2".

Remove small dust cover above passenger side axle (10mm bolt)

Now grab the transmission and push the differential up so that you can pivot the trans around the flywheel and toward the the radiator.

Now it should fall on your face.

Hope this helps.

Glad to have a voice of reason, been 20 years since I've done one

No offense... But I'm calling shenanigans! 20 years ago would be 2 years before a 98 transmission got here!

You may be correct, I'm getting old. But that model came out in 91 so it is possible not to have worked on that style transmission. I remember doing one in the garage is the early 00's

You may be correct, I'm getting old. But that model came out in 91 so it is possible not to have worked on that style transmission. I remember doing one in the garage is the early 00's

I figured that was the case, I just didn't know anything about pulling an 020 and I wanted to respond!

Thanks for all the advice.  It looked like it should come out if I rotated it up, but there wasn't quite enough room to rotate it far enough.  Moving the engine forward makes sense.

I was sick Monday and Tuesday and I had to work late tonight and I'll have to again tomorrow night.  Hopefully, I'll get off work early enough Friday to take advantage of (according the weather report I just heard on the radio) partly sunny skies and a high near 50 Friday afternoon and finally get this thing out of the car.  It's been loose from the engine and dangling from a cherry picker for nearly a week.    Now I remember why I love air-cooled VWs!   

Thanks Sal . . . I may have to take you up on the offer.  I hope to get off work in time to work on it tomorrow afternoon.  I'm pretty sure if I can get the engine to move forward a couple of inches I can get out.  We'll see.