Gene, thermostats manufactured with holes drilled through them typically also have what it is called a jiggle pin. The jiggle pin looks like a loose rivet that sticks through the hole with the rivet head on the engine block side of the thermostat. It that functions like a check valve by allowing trapped air to escape from the block but not to allowing coolant to pass through. This would defeat what you are trying to do. If you Google search 'jiggle pin', you'll see examples.
Matt
