[Gaz64]

Is there no room in the front water crossover to add a temp sender?

I would drill a hole, tap it 1/8 npt, and fit the sender.
That way you can see the engine warming up on all gauges.
Adding a sender after the thermostat, the gauge will barely work at all, then rise up, showing the thermostat operation.
Unless you want to see it that way.

Gary