Transmission removal

[Duganw]

I'm curious to see if anyone else has had this problem. In removing the transmission/bell housing after removal of the rear end differential assembly from a '28 Phaeton I could not get the U-joint to clear the brake crossover bar, so the tranny and bell housing became stuck between the clutch plate and crossover bar. I finally had to remove the U-joint in order to lower the tranny and remove it. Am I missing a trick?