New cam / timing question. Also hose sucked shut

Other than drilling the stat, all you really need to do is leave the highest heater hose disconnected just below the stat. Fill until you see coolant come "up," then connect one end of the hose with the other end slanting upwards. When the rad is full, slowly lower the end of the hose into a can until you get coolant to check that it's bled. As you drain a small amount out of the hose, the rad will drop a little.

Then hook the hose up to the other heater fitting. End of story. It's bled and you don't have to worry about it.

If you don't run a heater, pull out the plug where the heater "was" or pull out the temp. sender.

The BIG problem with airlocks, is that just like this incident, you were trying to something critical, like break in a cam. you should not have to play with coolant, timing, carburetor while this is going on. The REALLY big problem with airlocks is that THE TEMP GAUGE MAY NOT READ while the block is getting overheated.