So solved the issue. So as mentioned, there was a skeletal mesh, with cloth physics I deleted, but the editor could not delete the mesh or skeleton due to the cloth added to it. The physics mesh and anims deleted, but the skeleton and mesh would not delete. Moving, opening or trying to delete these would crash the editor. I made a copy of the project, deleted the fbx and .uasset’s associated with this asset. the project would open with no issues, and I can package now with no errors. Not sure if this is a bug, or the procedure to delete skeletal meshes with cloth is to remove cloth, then delete the asset. Either way, problem solves.
Thanks so much for the help.
Cheers 