T-Nix: The gas gauge does work when the key comes on.
Bartamos: thanks for the organized list of steps. Helps a lot. I will implement this afternoon and let you know what worked.
This truck has the original wiring harness as modified over the years by everyone but me. 12V, generator, stomp starter, original lighting fuse block, no accessories except for a goofy horn that's in-op, and now my radio addition. I concur on the alternator upgrade (and wiring harness), sometime this summer I hope.