Here you can see how I extended the leads between the sensor's brass body/connector and the actual thermistor.  Carefully grinding the crimped edge from around the top of the sensor I was able to pull all the innards out.  After attaching the leads to the thermistor it was reinstalled into its guard with a little JB weld to hold it in place.  The other ends of the leads were attached to the original plug.  The plug was mated back with the housing and a little JB weld here also to keep things together.