Russ - don't think I've ever gotten a pump for a 283 that didn't have that plug, but if the sender is hangin in there it might interfere w/ the impeller or w/ water flow - also that'd put the sender on the incoming water, needs to be on the outgoing . . . .
a buck will get ya a street el from the plumbing store, which will put that location close enuff to the current one so heater hose fits ok, and the sender is same pipe thread as the rest - don't worry about the details, just do it!!
Bill
