Stuart,
Thanks for the thoughts. I'm pretty sure the motor is spinning the right way- it is blowing air out the outlet, just very weakly. I know the core is getting plenty of hot water because the case gets nice and hot when the engine warms up, and I know the airflow is clear.
The problem simply is that the motor doesn't blow enough air for my satisfaction. How can I speed up the motor without replacing it? Is this just the way replacement 12 volt motors are?