Well just for future reference, if anyone else has this type of issue. The elbow that Merc uses when this motor is new is plastic/PVC type material. Which makes taking this off a total PIA, one its in a tight space, two if it gets heated makes it that much difficult to untighten three hard to get vice grips or a monkey wrench around for a secure fit. Mine ended up breaking off at the threads of course. It took about an hour or so to chip away all the left over pieces....I bought the new elbow from a local marine shop and they now are making them out of metal/cast iron. Which seems like this should have been the correct way to make them from the start! So a heads up, if you're taking this elbow off, BE CAREFUL or you might end up having to take your manifold off to get all the pieces out.