I thought I read some reference to blocking off part of the water inlet to #1 cylinder and re-routing it farther back, but can't find it.
This is a common L6 problem, and has been dealt with by many manufacturers, but what has been done as a shade-tree fix?

I haven't ran into the problem on L6 engines due to a lack of experience on these engines. However, on V8 engines we have run external water lines to different places on the cylinder heads for better cooling. I suppose the same thing could be done to the L6's if it was a problem.

Ron

I've got some ideas on how and where to divert water, I just can't remember where I saw a comment and a drawing on a "masking plate" that covered part of the water inlet at the block face.