metal piece in Barrcuda gas filler tube
 

I dropped the gas tank from my 68 Barracuda and removed the filler tube (one I figured out how to get the anti-theft screws out). Anyway, there is a square piece of metal, like a ruler, that runs from the top of the tube and protrudes at the bottom. The tube is fine but this piece of metal is in bad shape. A friend said it was an anti-siphon device and is actually welded in at the top. Is this true? How do I get it out/off? Thanks