Am I right in thinking my truck has two temperature sensors?
One for the ECU and one just for the instrument panel gauge?

The reason I ask is I have a stepper motor gauge because that little needle's no use to me.
By the time I notice that rising it'll be too late. I bought a proper gauge so I can see the real temperature.

My main question is...

Can I unplug and remove the sensor/ sender under the intercooler (left side of engine) where the water comes out of the block and just replace it with my new gauges sender?
Or will that cause problems with the ECU?

It's a 2004 K74 model with the 4D56 engine.

no worries u can do that mate straight to gauge that sender

I opted not to do that and cut the top and bottom rad hoses and inserted my senders there