Figured it out - what worked for me was sitting in the back with the hatch partially down, after everything is disconnected you can slide the handle to your right and get enough room to then move it down and out one of the large ports.

Reason for no lock was one of the vacuum actuators had a leak - fortunately I had bought one on speculation that it could be it (all of $15), well it worked. The actuators pop out the side, I pried on the latching tab on the old one and it came off easily.

Note that it is not necessary to remove the assist close latch, I did when I was looking for how to get everything out, not necessary.

Anyone know the part number for the small black/charcoal 2 piece rivets that hold the lower plastic in place? Was missing 2 and figure I should replace a few of the others as well.

Thanks
Paul