74 power wagon dream truck...

Thinking out loud here along those thoughts of an airlock I know I have an aftermarket heater with much longer hoses and they actually curve up off the motor go down probably as low as the water pump then come back up to the heater? I'm wondering if where they come down I pick them up at least during initial startup and getting the system filled if there's some kind of airlock circulation problem? And it filing through to other parts?..
I did throw the thermostat in a bowl of boiling water from the microwave and it barely partially started opening maybe halfway at best... I had my heat gun on it to make sure it was well over 180°... Like the duster my plan is just to gut the mechanism and keep a little bit of a restriction... I don't feel the radiator is plugged whatsoever...
I have my work cut out for me getting these gaskets off the heads and the intake manifold as they're glued on extremely tight the way I like it so there's no leaks... LOL..:BangHead:...:rolleyes:...