Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1961 thunderbird, crankcase breather, engine coolant

Question
I just got a 1961 ford t-bird with 47,000 original miles on the 390 ci. motor. It has not been altered in any way that i know of. What is the one inch plate under the carb for.  I was told "hot water flows thru it to heat up the carb because of how cool it runs".  I find that hard to believe, most of the time vapor-lock is a problem not the opposite.  Also on the back of the intake manifold there is a large (1") hose fitting. It is not attached to anything,no water comes out when the car is running, there is no vaccum of any kind from it that i can tell, where does it go and what is it for.  Thanks for any help you can give me.

Answer
The plate under the carburetor is indeed designed to carry heated engine coolant to warm the carburetor base and the automatic choke. This prevents carburetor icing as well. Vapor lock occurs in the fuel lines that are trying to carry liquid fuel to the carburetor. If the fuel boils is will upset the pumping action of the fuel pump. A photo of the 1" fitting would help but the thing is probably the crankcase breather tune. There should be a metal down pipe attached to it to extend under the car. We called it a road draft tube in the day. Are the heater hoses connected on the car? Let me know and a photo if possible.
Brad