No, your thinking of the barrel cut the other way, so like a bucket. These are cut lengthwise. So the bottom of the GB is the curved side of the barrel....as if barrel is on side. Bucket like cut would be easily fixable with a bung or bulkhead.

Being that the barrel is on it's side, there's not much give.

The barrels come with 2 inch threaded plugs, one in each half. But they are in the top, so when cut and laid on side, the openings end up being in the front or back. If you leave the plugs in, it holds water, take the plugs out, and the water runs out.

These plugs are within an inch or so of the outer lip. Can a bell siphon be mounted to this threaded port? Siphon would have to be L shaped. I have never heard of an L shaped bell siphon before. Does anyone have experience with this? Or an idea of how to make it work? Thanks.