Changing trannys do you have to drop the whole front end to change trannys?

Yep!

Here it is...

Automatic Transaxle Assembly REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

1. Disconnect the negative terminal from the battery. Detach the wire connector at the Mass Air Flow sensor.
2. If equipped, remove the cross brace to strut towers, as follows:
1. Loosen the bar assembly through-bolts.
2. Remove the inboard strut nuts.
3. Remove the brace assembly.
4. Reinstall the inboard strut nuts.
3. Remove the air intake duct.
4. Disconnect the cruise control cable from the throttle body.
5. Remove the shift control linkage from the mounting bracket at the transaxle and the lever at the manual shaft.
6. Label and detach the connectors from the following:
   1. Park/neutral/backup lamp switch.
   2. Transaxle electrical connector.
   3. Vehicle speed sensor and fuel pipe retainers.
7. Remove the fuel pipe retainers.
8. Disconnect the vacuum modulator hose from the modulator. WARNING
   You must support or remove the engine. If the engine is not support you may damage the engine, transaxle, halfshafts or many other components.
   
9. Remove the three top transaxle-to-engine block bolts and install a suitable engine support fixture. Load the support fixture by tightening the wingnuts several turns in order to relieve the tension on the frame and the mounts.
10. Turn the steering wheel to the full left position.
11. Raise and safely support the vehicle. Remove both front tire and wheel assemblies.
12. Drain the automatic transaxle fluid into a suitable container.
13. Remove the right and left front ball joint nuts, then separate both control arms from the steering knuckle.
14. Remove the right halfshaft from the transaxle only. Do not remove the halfshaft from the hub/bearing assembly. NOTE: Carefully guide the output shaft past the lip seal. Do not allow the halfshaft splines to contact any portion of the lip seal.
    
15. Remove the left halfshaft from the transaxle and hub/knuckle assembly. Be careful not to damage the pan.
16. Support the transaxle with a suitable stand.
17. Remove the bolts at the transaxle and the nuts at the cradle member. Remove the left front transaxle mount.
18. Remove the right front mount-to-cradle nuts. Remove the left rear transaxle mount-to-transaxle bolts.
19. Remove the torque strut bracket from the transaxle.
20. Remove the right transaxle mount-to-transaxle bolts.
21. Remove the left rear transaxle mount. Remove the transaxle brace from the engine bracket.
22. Remove the stabilizer shaft link-to-control arm bolt. NOTE: Be sure to matchmark the flywheel-to-converter relationship for proper alignment upon reassembly.
    
23. Unfasten the flywheel cover bolts, then remove the cover. Matchmark the flywheel-to-torque converter installed position, then remove the flywheel-to-converter bolts.
24. Remove the bolts attaching the rear frame member to the front frame.
25. Remove the front left cradle-to-body bolt and the front cradle dog leg-to-right cradle member bolts.
26. Remove the frame/cradle assembly by swinging it aside and supporting it with a jackstand.
27. Disconnect the oil cooler lines from the transaxle, then plug the lines to avoid contamination.
28. NOTE: One bolt located between the transaxle and the engine block is installed in the opposite direction.
    
29. Remove the remaining lower transaxle-to-engine bolts and lower the transaxle from the vehicle. Be careful when removing the transaxle to avoid damaging the right-hand output shaft, shaft seal, hoses, lines and wiring.