To remove the front yoke on the output shaft that bolts to the front DS, does said yoke come off via bolt inside the yoke or do you crack open the X-fer case?

Take off the Yoke nut, and the yoke will come off.

So no cracking the X-fer case open when I go to the JY? Awesome! Thanks alot

Just a simple nut - a big one - 26mm I think. That, some PB Blaster, and a big breaker bar. They tend to be one there pretty tight.