NO HAMMER! well not a big one.........
i would try to "ease" that baby out of there, it may actually be easier to drop the engine out of the frame ( its not that difficult, honest) to make access better.
try lots of penetrating fluid and very very very gentle taps with a very sharp small chisel to ease it out, or a dremel to cut the ring... you dont want to damage the aluminium in any way at all.........
when refitting the new headers use the copper sealing washers and coat the ends of the headers, the studs in the head, the nuts on the studs etc, in copper anti-sieze compound ( copaslip) this will stop the electrolytic action of the aluminium and steel welding itself together in future.
Patience is a virtue here im afraid...... like waiting for the perfect picture.... its gonna take time, and you cant rush it.
Martyn
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