[storm9c1]

Try working on an old big block Mopar! They have a handful of these suckers just in the head alone. And of course the one facing the firewall is the one that has to leak with no room to work on it. Chevys are a little easier, but not by much. It's a PITA no matter what (with the engine in the vehicle). If it was weeping a little, I'd leave it alone. But mine have failed to the point of spraying coolant through a tiny rust hole. That's why I like brass. When it comes to retrieving brass ones, if the engine is out or you can reach, I pre-drill 2 holes in it, fish a piece of long thin wire or cable/zip tie through it to make a loop. This becomes a "safety" wire. If it falls into the block, I have the attached wire to fish it out. Some guys leave them in the block when they fall in, but I wouldn't.