I’m glad to see you found and solved the problem. The sharp turn in the water tube can cause problems and is usually overlooked!
I picked up a ’57 Lightwin cheap once because it kept running hot for the owner and he couldn’t figure out why. It took me a few late nights and teardowns to finally discover a small pebble had made its way thru the pump and lodged itself in the bend. The tube seemed clear while blowing air thru it but the pebble must have restricted the water flow enough to cause the overheat condition. The motor runs great now and is on the restore list!