For anyone interested, It just pulled out with a bit of gentle muscling and rotating. I got it all back together, filled and no leaks! so I drained and flushed and refilled with prestone.
Now I'm looking to purge the air from the cooling system. My haynes manual is useless on this subject. I'll do a search and then start a new thread if needed.
Thanks
Popa Tim

Purge the air by opening the bleeder on top of the thermostat housing elbow. Open it up, then when coolant oozes out, close it back up!

Hey Vital Thanks!!
I found the very same info in another thread but at least its all here in one now

Tomorrows project, new serpentine belt !
oh woe is me! I just know that engine mount is going to be a royal pain.
Cheers,
Popa Tim

I guess I'm just lucky, when my coolant elbow failed it sheared off between the hex part and the threads... Leaving the plastic threaded part in the aluminum upper. That was a fun-filled evening of "Carefully" chisseling, torching, and picking clean those threads.

Replaced with a metal elbow so that shouldn't be happening again.