Unfortunately Hobbits suggestions, fine as they are, lie several hundred miles to the north. Still worth considering if you have a suitable tow vehicle and rent a front axle dolly. If you are really going to have the transaxle swap, I would suggest that hybrid vehicle experience may not be as important as solid mechanical skills. The cartalk web site offers a search engine for recomended shops vs. zip code. it gives a long list within 20 miles of zip 92656. I suggest that you contact some of those and 'take their temperature'. Also we can hope for more responses from PCers in your area. meanwhile could you say more about the car's situation and we can consider the options fully?
If you are planning to install a new transaxle, you'd might as well have a Toyota dealer install it so that you can benefit from the one year parts warranty. I've had good luck with Toyota/Scion of Rancho Santa Margarita for various hybrid warranty repairs, and that dealer is reasonably close to you. If you are planning to install a used transaxle, then you'll need to find an independent shop but I do not know one to recommend in south OC. Further, there's some risk that the used transaxle will not last very long in service - the Art's Automotive website seems to have reached a similar conclusion. What driveability problems are displayed by your Prius?
