Radiator recommendations

Its a thermocouple guage with the sending unit in the intake manifold near the thermostat. It also changes proportionately to the stock guage.

Distance between New rad and water pump I did not measure but I am thinking around 3.25" given all the other stuff I have measured. I'm likely going to return this rad and swap for another. I barely took it out of the bubble wrap.

Yes, only runs hot on the highway after 10-20 mins driving at 65mph. The bottom rad hose is now new gates brand and has a brand new spring in it I purchased online.

Stock recored rad is not out of the question I was hoping for an easy aluminum solution though. I work near tons of hot rod shops in Huntington Beach CA so I might try to find someone who's good with radiators to recore for me. Hoping for an easier solution though because as far as I can tell the rad I have is not Mopar oem so not into recoring that. I was mistaken earlier when I posted its a 26" factory, it looks like 22" aftermarket. The fender tag displays it was optioned with a 26" originally though.