what are these things? and can i lose them?

Those supression capacitors are meant to keep a pop noise out of the radio speakers. There's one on the back of your instrument panel too.
The original choke sat in a well to get its heat. Because they were slow to operate the factory added a electric choke assist ( heater ) in the well with it. That white ceramic box is a timer and power supply for the heater. Most of those are toast on the inside today.