I now have my original pan back on the tranny and the temp sender has been moved from the port to the pan - my temps still read the same as I previously posted. So, i got to thinking: either something is definitely wrong with the tranny (which is not supported by the beautiful red color of the fluid) or something is wrong with the sender - as it is not the one I used on the previous tranny.

Come to find out I had ordered the wrong sender for my guage. Somehow I ordered 2253 instead of 2258 - sheesh! This is why my temps are reading high, problem solved. New sender will be in this weekend.