Yes it can be done. There is no literature in the haynes about it, but there is web site link to the procedure. I did mine on my old 8v without looking at any books, and as long as you are carefull and record various measurments during dismantling, you should be ok.
You need to drain the gearbox oil first, jack up the front of the car and remove the front left road wheel. You then need to remove the engine\gearbox mount and mount strut, then locer the gearbox down sufficiently to gain access to the 5th gear cover. Carefull with the gasket as you will need to use this again.
Be carefull which rods you remove as there is one that if removed, is a gearbox out and dissassemble to refit it.
I will look for the website for the rest of the proceedure and post if I find it.
It took me about 3 hours to do the job, but then I am an engineer anyway and am quite used to doing things like this.
