EGR Valve Removal

[mishawaka]

96 eddie with a v6. Anyone have any tricks to removing the EGR valve? I have the 2 small bolts and the tube going to the intake removed but can't seem to get the valve off without taking a chance of breaking the tube that goes to the exhaust manifold. I've sprayed but not much room there to get a really good grip on it. Thought about heating it but then again afraid I might melt something. Any suggestions?
Also I noticed the o-ring on the tube going to the manifold is pretty worn out so I actually think that might be the real problem behind the intermittent rough idle but would like to just go ahead and replace the EGR valve for safe measures.

 

[mattferkey]

get rough and break off the top and with that out of the way you can more easily heat it up and get a better angle to grip and turn it out.

 

[mishawaka]

I went ahead and put it back together til next weekend, think I'll take over to my gf's dads house and use his torch set. Ran out of time today. Thanks for the reply!

 

[96XLTRanger]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145716&highlight=egr+valve