possible water pump?

SON240sx Automotive
1

looking for some help/advice on whether or not my water pump is dead

S13 Redtop SR20

The motor runs fine and the pullies spin freely with no noises.
The top rad hose gets hot but the lower rad hose stays cool. I also turn on the heat and fan but the air comes out cool. I started off by swapping the thermostat with a G20 thermo as it was the only one I could find on a Sunday (please let me know if this does not work). I have run the motor with the colant topped off and did the normal procedure to bleed the colant but same story… could it be the water pump or a big air pocket?
I plan to pull the water pump next but won’t be able to right away, so just looking for some help/advice.

Let me know what you guys think, thanks

2

does the rad get hot?

3

the top of the rad gets hot but the rest stays cool

4

Last night i had the chance to run the motor and try to get any possible air pockets out… no luck… same symptoms, hot on top cool on bottom, and with heater on full blast the air was cool

So i got my lazy ass up early this morning and decided to pull the water pump. I ws hoping to find a rusted/siezed pump but i was wrong… below is what i found

http://fpereira.homeip.net/pictures/temp/waterpump1.jpg

http://fpereira.homeip.net/pictures/temp/waterpump2.jpg

The damn thing is like new and it spins… wtf