Omc exh. mani. rear plugs.

[a70eliminator]

MY OMC ford v8's has casted in nipples in the rear of the manifolds that use a rubber hose cap and hose clamp, I struggled to remove them and ended up having to cut a slit to get them off.
My question is, are these style hose plugs redily available or is there a better alternative like a rubber expansion plug or well nut, or something I can make up in the garage maybe?

 

[wire2]

Re: Omc exh. mani. rear plugs.

A couple of ideas; If you wipe some silicone grease on the nipples before clamping the rubber caps on, they'll readily come off next time. Don't use dino grease, it may attack the rubber cap.

I had similar nipples cast into the thermostat housing for coolant to the exhaust, ('84 OMC 5.7). I cut them off flush, tapped the hole to ?" NPT and threaded brass SMC push-in fittings in there. I can remove the tube with 1 hand, no tools.
There are plastic plugs available to seal a fitting as well. Push in, press the ring to release. Good for 150 psi.
smcusa, look up "fitting & tubings"