1 yes you can get it from auto zone
2 no you don't cut it there are 2 10 mm bolts that hold in place
and those plastic things are really hard rubber and there there to keep crap out of the tranny as you drive. I left mine out as well as the tranny cover. its better to leave them in but I was in a hurry and need my truck back.
LoL! It makes no sense to have them then... Why did they not just make those parts solid like the rest of the housing?
Schucks will probably have a puller kit then. They're closer too!
Alright, well, I will get on this next week then...lol.