I remember the struggles i had putting the box back in on my 3 cylinder fabia. In the end we managed to manoeuvre it in but realized afterwards just removing that flange would have been easiest and then refill gearbox oil once installed. Its just a single 5mm bolt in the centre and it pulls out easy enough. Could also replace the seal whilst you are there. Just one of these things you learn as you do the job.

1 hour ago, clarendon462 said:

I remember the struggles i had putting the box back in on my 3 cylinder fabia. In the end we managed to manoeuvre it in but realized afterwards just removing that flange would have been easiest and then refill gearbox oil once installed. Its just a single 5mm bolt in the centre and it pulls out easy enough. Could also replace the seal whilst you are there. Just one of these things you learn as you do the job.

 

I did try and take it off, after I got it stuck   but that allen bolt was way too tight.

Also I couldn't get the box back out or manoeuvre it after it got stuck on that dowel and between the subframe.

Tight fit on these 1.9 tdis. 

15 hours ago, Furbypd1000 said:

Tight fit on these 1.9 tdis

 Assume same clearance as 1.4TDI - same driveshafts - which has loads of room at opposite end of engine for cambelt replacement.

I would assume its the same no matter what engine on the gearbox side- as you say its the cambelt side where the extra room is on the 3 pots

I ended up taking both flanges off as recommended by rbaldwin in the ask a tech section. But even then I had to swivel the engine forward allow the gearbox to miss the crossmember.

The hex bolt in the centre is a pain as you have to make up something to hold the flange still and then still access it and push the drive flange in.

Job well done. Driving OK?