Best place to put Temp probe

Assuming you don't have a shutoff valve in your heater hoses. You could make or maybe buy a "T" fitting that you could put into the supply side to the heater core.

Car has factory AC so it has the dual hose valve which I expect is what you mean by shutoff valve.

I am not sure the T will work since the probe portion that goes in the block looked pretty big. I might look into this option though. Thanks.