Nope, that's why they break so0metimes you get lucky, but the proper way and really best way if you still have anything to grab on there is pull the valve cover to access it.

 

1996 should have a single temp sensor in the thermostat housing - they did away with the one at the rear of the cylinder head for the 1996 model year and the introduction of OBD-II.

You won't find it on the #0630 or #0331 head casting - there's a boss there for it, but it goes unmachined. Only the #2686 and #7120 heads have the hole drilled and tapped.

 

My 96 has the sensor in the head still.

 

My 96 has the sensor on the head too. That one for temp gauge, the one on the thermo housing for the aux fan. Might have changed it for 97 + (they did a bunch of dumb**** to those engines), but 96 still has it.

 

For you (and the next guy,) what casting number do you have on your heads? I was given to understand it was eliminated with OBD-II and the advent of the CAN bus.

The casting number can be found outside the valve cover, on the driver's side of the head, overtop of the centre two exhaust ports.

Also, do you have an OBD-I or OBD-II diagnostic plug?