1964 a833 hard to get into first gear

It's kinda like pulling the trans out of a Tri-Five Chevy, with all the extensions you need, the ratchet ends up by the end of the tail housing.
A tri 5 had no crossmember, and the stock bells had a big enough bottom the bell did not need to be removed. I could have the gearbox out of a 55 "back then" in about 5 minutes. And that was without any fancy jacks or creeper