Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1951 packard 327 engine water distribution tube, valve job, water distribution

Question
Brad, thanks for your opinion. How important is the water distribution tube in my 1951 packard 327 engine? It is damaged toward the front of the engine.

Answer
Back in the day when we were working on those cars as used cars, we found that if we were doing a valve job and the exhaust valves were burned that the water distribution tube was rotted out. The water distribution tube is there to form a jet of water at each valve seat for cooling. It is important.
Brad