Thanks much VEW. No, I have ruled out the wiring from sending unit to gauge. I have it pinned down to the gauge itself. Plan on going into it looking for an open in the coils or hopefully, bad connection to the post, such as rust.
Actually I will be having jumper wires, gauge and a new sending unit all laying on the workbench.
Just wanted to make sure a dead ground was the way to test it.
Thanks again.