It shouldn't take 2 days to do that job on a mk4 Escort, which ever way you do it.

Unless every bolt was seized/broken off etc

Even if car has the crappy ABS with belts round the driveshafts which does slow down the job taking a gearbox out of a mk4..but not that much!

If taking just the box out, taking the complete ARB/gearbox cradle out takes no time at all really (as long as all the bolts come out ok,not forgetting it's an old car) it's only a few (mainly) 17mm nuts & bolts.