3 QUESTIONS about adding a better coolant sensor/gauge: <1293cc engine>

I've got an original electric, temperature sender in the head (of the car)
;-) . It currently (no pun intended) sends its resistance values to a cheapy
temperature gauge in the center combo gauge (fuel, alternator light,
etc.)... and it sucks (with a very small needle throw). So, I thought I'd
switch to a mechanical gauge/sender (bulb, capillary tube, etc.)... but the
unit I have will require some pesky adaptors to use (namely, a 3/8-1/2 <I
think>, a coupling, and then the sender)... all this because the sender will
not properly seat in the head. Bottom line is that the sender would end up
on about a 1.5" stem off the head (over the alternator just a bit).

QUESTION #1: will this seriously compromise my sensing water temperature
because of a potential lack of circulation to the sender? The original
sender has its tip completely in the water flow of the head. Obviously,
water will still find its way to the sender.

Next, and related, if the answer to Question #1 is that "it won't matter
that much," then, could I install a "T" at this same coupling point (instead
of a simple coupling) and hook up both the old electrical sender and the new
mechanical one? This would be just as easy.

QUESTION #2: is this nuts? Is it a waste of time? Again, will I get enough
water flow out to this location?

OK, and finally... if the answer to Question #1 (and #2) is "no, this is a
poor solution and you should just leave the electrical one in the head",
where could I best add this mechanical one? I don't know if a new thermostat
housing will receive this sender (with its approx. 1.5" bulb).

QUESTION #3: what hose (or line) could be the most easily tapped in order to
put in a "T" with a mechanical sensor?

- MARK