back up .... you said you used a digi-thermo on it and found the gauge was reading higher than the digi, and that top and bottom of the rad were the same temps
1 - your gauge is inaccurate, but you know that it's reading high so there really isn't an overheating problem
2 - if the temp into the top of the rad is the same as the temp out of the bottom then the rad is not doing it's job, it should drop at least 15-30 degrees thru the rad - either your 'recored' rad was a rip off or something is preventing circulation
if you check more carefully with the digital you should be able to find out just what's happening, the cooling system should be cooling the water wink

I also don't see what engine this is, and wonder if you got an incorrect new sender

Bill

Moved over to the Passing Lane

"When we tug a single thing in nature we find it attached to the rest of the world" John Muir
"When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" me
Some TF series details & TF heater pics & Rust-a-holics Unanimous parking lot