This is a "water distribution tube". By its very nature, it is required for the engine to run at the correct temperature, and evenly in all areas of the block. I am not sure about your car, but in others that I have worked on, this tube comes out through the front of the motor. To pull it out, it is usually necessary to remove the fan, water pump, radiator, and sometimes the grill. Having this part corrode inside your cooling system is not something to be taken lightly. First, what ever is causing it to corrode is also damaging other parts. Second, if it is corroded, other stuff is probably corroded as well. Third, corrosion plugs up water passages, and that will cut down on cooling as much or more than anything else that would be wrong. It would seem that a major clean out and replenshing of your cooling system would be in order. When I was a little kid, my father had a bigh car with a straight 8 engine (not Chrysler, but we had one of those too). The water distribution tube went bad, causing the car to overheat badly, especially on the highway. When he figured out what was wrong, it cost more to have the car fixed than it was worth, so it was junked. Paul In a message dated 6/17/2004 10:00:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Captden30@xxxxxxx writes: >i know this does not relate to my 53 imperial, but i have a 54 windsor that >is giving me cooling problems. i will have the radiator done and change the >cap, but iam wondering about the water tube. if it corrodes, do the rotten >parts >block the water flow or do they just drop off where they are not a real >problem? what exactly does this tube do and if it is not there what are the � >associated problems? it seems easy enough to replace looking in the book, but >is it >really that easy. any help with these questions would be appreciated..dennis � >53 custom, 54 windsor >