Rb25 Thermostat Housing Heater Return Fitting Removal

[Chids34]

So, I recently noticed coolant puddles under my R34 coupe nothing major small puddles each night, after inspection I found that one of the core plugs is leaking. In itself this wouldn't be a major problem just knock it out and knock one it, however as can be seen in the attached pictures after removing most of the major things in the way I came across an issue. There is a fitting that is pressed into the thermostat housing that allows for coolant to flow to the heater core, this fitting is blocking me from removing the core plug, and before I go do something stupid like break it, does anybody know how to remove the heater return fitting in the thermostat housing, and no it doesn't just come out easily is quite tight and I don't want to but to much force on it in case I am doing something wrong that will break it.

Thanks for any help, pictures of fitting below

[Ben C34]

Take water pump off and tap it out.

Yep. It sucks for you! That includes removing timing belt.

I don't think wiggling it will get it out but worth a shot, it Is just tapped in there.

[Ben C34]

Some wiggling and levering will probably destroy it, so very another one incase

[Chids34]

Its all good, got it out with damage, it required me the find some strong round bar and bend it into a L/J shape then stuck that inside the housing and hit it out from the inside, its a little tricky and I wouldn't recommend using alot of force just slowly tap it out, but the core plug was replaced and the fitting tapped back in perfectly and is now running with no leak. Thanks anyway as always Ben

[Ben C34]

Good work!