I did restrict the heater core once,, It was the first suggestion of the rad shop,, they were penny sized slugs with holes in them, I put at the pipe inlet of the core,, they did nothing different than create eventual seepage at the clamping points after hot temp and driving,,had the intake heat 't' in that line it would blow it right off,switched that to the out of the core,,then took them out,,
I'm getting real close to attempting to remove the steering shaft, which might require removal of the intake and exhaust, if so and I gotta tear down,, I'll switch water pumps,,??