Well, I did the swap. I thought I had the tool to remove the cassette lockring but it was a bottom bracket tool instead. Quick run to the LBS got me the right tool ( chose the one with the pin in the middle) Came off real easy. Swapped tires and cassette and installed old tires back onto stock wheels since they still have some life. Didn't take long at all to do all 4.
For those who are new, just a few pointers I have:
1. Makes sure you put a chalk mark indicating direction of rotation of the tire. Of course you will remove them and install them the same right? WRONG. Somehow, they always get turned around so you'll need to remove the tires and redo them. The Chalk mark will be a loud reminder of what direction they need to go. I believe it doesn't matter on the front wheel but it does on the back. On my wheels, I did not see any marks on the front suggesting a rotation direction. Only the tires did. When installed with the chalk arrow at the top of the wheel, they are all pointing forward.
2. Check your brakes. If you are like me, your new wheels will be a different size. You will need to adjust your brakes so they will not rub or to make them make contact!!
3. Check you derailleurs. These wheels were meant for 11 sp cassette and my prior were for 9/10 sp. I had a spacer to use on the new wheels to fit my 9 sp cassette but they were still a little different than my previous wheels and needed some tweaking.
4. Clean the cassette WELL. I cleaned it but I clearly had left some grit on it and it happened to get down low and affected the spacing ever so slightly. I had to take it off and clean again. Clean them better than new if you are reusing your cassette on new wheels. This is one time being anal retentive pays off. It might be best to buy a new cassette so they are pristine to begin with.
5. If you have a patched tire, now is a good time to install it, even if it is only temporary, and verify it holds air. You have the tires off. Might as well install them and fill them all the way. Better to check them and re-patch if needed now than while on the road only to find out it leaks.
6. wear old cloths when doing the job. No matter how clean you have the parts, you are always going to stain something. (The sprocket teeth marks did come out of my pants
)
Now that the wheels are installed, the change was noticeable, even for this newbee. The Vuelta Corsa SLR are about 1-1.5 lbs lighter than my stock Secteur wheels and they do roll for what feels like forever. My only gripe is that they could be stiffer laterally and the freehub clicking is louder now. Otherwise, they seems to speed up more quickly and require less effort , to me, in climbing. It is not insanely huge but it is a very noticeable difference.
Thanks to everyone for your help. This was a success because of all of your tutelage.
Thank you.