Dear Steve,
1) You can disconnect the clamps and remove your shift rods without removing the shifter box.
2) "Removing the reverse lock out in there" means the redundant Italian spring loaded plunger that tends to slow down the shifting and can get more problematic with time and inadequate lubrication??? If that is what you mean, then, again, the shifter box doesn need to come out. Just remove the C-clip behind the shifter stick, remove the round metal cap beneath, which give access to the spring and the cylindrical cup under the spring. Sometimes it comes out easily. Sometimes not. Once removed, you will see the grooved top of the shifter output shaft (correct term?) where plunger rode on it. Replace the round cap and C-clip and you're done.......if that is what you are referring to.
Warmest regards, Chuck Engles