heater core hell!!!

whats up everyone, i got me an 87 accord, problem is their was coolant leaking all over the passenger side floor. I knew it was the heater core so i busted my chiltons and my haynes out and tore out my dashboard and everything on it (no easy process) just to get to the dang thing. Now the real problem, there appears to be a metal brace welded directly to the firewall holding the casing that the core is in. The manuals do not even specify which casing the core is in (though i know its the middle one) never mind how to get it out. It just says remove screws holding casing, pull heater core out basically. How do i get the core out, any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated