This just popped into my head like 3 minutes ago lol.

I was just wondering if the steam tube on the back of the heads can be switched around and put on the front of the heads and work correctly? Obviously you would have to make a new hose for it.
It would kind of clutter it up a bit but could be easier to work on? IDK
Kinda dumb but I was curious.

 

I believe there are provisions for it, but they're also behind the coil/icm and alternator.

 

That's right, the heads are identical. You just have to move the plugs.
My Dart heads arrived without plugs, I had to find a set and install them myself.

 

You cannot do that.. The heads are reverse cooled.. which means it flows out the back and back into the radiator

 

Coolant flows in and out though the water pump housing.
The steam vents tap into that return line.
I don't see how having them at the front or back of the heads matters.

Reverse-flow simply means that coolant runs though the heads before it hits
the block (unlike SBC where it flows though the block, then up to the heads)

 

Not sure if it would matter, but if you look at the outlet of the water pump on the block, it immediately turns up into the heads. If the steam tube were in the front, I'd think there's no real opportunity for heat transfer to the coolant to produce steam since the coolant flows from front to back and straight coolant would constantly flow through the hose.

Just a theory.

 

Steam needs to be purged from the back as that is the last point in water flow front to back.