When I took my engine apart to replace the head gaskets, I was not looking forward to pulling the steel pipe for the heater core feed out of the manifold. All of the writeups I found talked about it being a nightmare. On mine, when I took out the bolt it pretty much fell out. The last time the pipe was installed, whoever did it smeared some rtv around the flange up top. By sealing off the top of the port with rtv, no water coolant or junk could get in there. That way the portion of this connection above the o-ring stayed clean and dry so no galvanic corrosion could take place between the steel pipe and the aluminum manifold. I put it back together the same way just in case I ever need to tear this thing apart again.

 

I've always coated the oring and pipe with bearing grease. Its a breeze to remove!!

 

Doesn't run out when it heats up? Certainly would clean off easier, although my intake cleaned up with one shot of brake cleaner and a quick wipe.

 

Maybe after 40 years but being a rover she'll be taken apart constantly!