Should the transmission be in N or P when removing, or it doesn't matter?

At one point you will need it in the N position, to disconnect the driveshaft......Mike

Nothing in th manual about putting it back in park, so I'll leave it in neutral.

Don't forget to score and mark the drive shaft coupling.

No way that transmission was coming out without removing the driveshaft. The tailshaft sticks out 1 3/8" past the jurid coupling. Do I have the only car built like that?

The driveshaft compresses, giving you room to move the trans back......Mike

And how does it compress? I tried with a two foot bar, and no movement. I do see what may be a clamp held by two rings with lock tabs, but I thought that was to separate the shaft ends, not compress them.

There is nothing in the JTIS about taking that apart and I was concerned with damaging the tabs, but this is not the first time the manual took things for granted.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I do not remember the driveshaft as being much of a problem, even though I undid both ends, which I don't think I needed to. Mine compressed, and stayed up out of the way.......Mike

Yes, the driveshaft compresses. After you undo the bolts holding it to the differential, grab it at that end and pull hard towards the transmission. It should compress a couple of inches.

I see the slip joint, but the rubber cover is clamped on both sides and does not move. A two foot wrecking bar was used to apply pressure with no results.

Once unbolted it should move back enough to slip away from the trans so you can maneuver it out of the way. Is it stuck at the connection to the trans?

No Gus, look at the picture again. That slip joint is tight. I finally got it to move by pounding the assembly on a rubber mat on the floor, but moving it back out took a lot of pounding on the Jurid bolts with a brass hammer. If I keep doing this it will probably loosen enough to put it back in the car.