Removing coolant nipple from head
 

Im swapping to a BP4W head on my boosted Protege. I need to swap out the coolant nipple on the back of the head for the heater core fitting in a FWD orientation.

Any Ideas on getting this out without bitching up the fitting since I need to swap them? Should I just let the machine shop deal with it?

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1371574651

What I need

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1371574651

So, I picked up a super cheap protege head to port and polish and use on my miata. I tried everything I could think of to get that stupid fitting out and never did manage to succeed. I heated the whole head and chilled that fitting, tried penetrating lube, pliers, hammering etc. etc. So, take that for what it's worth, but you might want to start researching a different option.

Use an angle grinder to cut away the head around the pipe.

The only time I have seen someone attempt to remove that fitting "cleanly," he wound up having to drill out the remains and then tap the head for a thread-repair sleeve.

I was figuring this may be a nightmare waiting to happen lol.

Guess I can chop it flush with the head and drill out the rest, then tap it for an npt to AN fitting or something to get a 90 degree 3/4" barb.

Thanks for the replies gentlemen :)