I'm not sure, I have never had the water pumps off. Does sound restrictive though.

 

The hole is maybe 1/4" at best. I should have taken some pictures but I was racing the sun and wanted to get this done before it freezes.

 

Hole above the impeller opening is a bypass for coolant flow when thermostats are closed. Hole behind the gasket is a remnant from '32-6 when pumps were on the heads, perhaps retained as a casting aid. Coolant flows up through the pumps & out past the impeller into the block. They flow plenty.


Earlier you mentioned concern about the wheels. Keep in mind the oldtimers used them, broke them down, changed tires, hauled big loads, etcetc. They got by & so can we. I have a couple on an F5 & will not toss them aside over "modern safety concerns". Just be sure the mating surfaces are good shape & clean & the removable part is centered evenly while inflating. Sometimes need to bump them around with a hammer while air pressure is still low.


You can always finish inflating when they're mounted on the truck; removable part is to the inside. On single tires, that is.

 

That makes a lot more sense then all the water flowing through that tiny hole. Does anyone have any ideas why water flows out of both heads when I fill the rad. But with the engine running one side does not seem to pump water for more than 10 seconds.

Part of me is wondering if compression is getting into the water jacket on that side but I hope that is not the case.

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

"Water flows out of both heads when I fill the radiator" - Are you filling the radiator with the upper hoses removed? How did you determine one side pumps sooner than the other? Does it have thermostats? (It will run too cold without them) With the radiator filled & a cold start a momentary dead miss can - not always - be a coolant leak into the combustion chamber.


A way to check for that is remove the generator - water pump belt, upper hoses, thermostats. Put outlets back on, fill radiator with water till you see it in the outlets & start engine. A compression leak will cause bubbles.

 

Yes I had the upper hoses removed. I have also removed the thermostats. Here is a link to a video if what I did.
At this point I'm just trying to figure out what condition my flathead is in. I just filled the system with water not coolant for this test. The coolant system was drained before it was parked 30 years ago.

 

Well, that test is a new one on me. I'm not sure what it proves. Someone else may know. Might remove the left pump for a look at the impeller; I've seen stamped steel replacements, which is more prone to rust. There is a bolt inside the lower hose inlet. Also check for blockage in the lower hose & radiator outlet.


Is it possible, that with out thermostats, one pump will move more? Like 2 dogs eating from the same dish, one takes more than the other.