Ok, i have ran new wires from the gauge to the sending unit, and made a new ground from one of the mounting screws on the sending unit straight to the frame. On the gauge end, I connected the power directly from the accessory point on the ignition switch, which as of now successfully powers the fuse board, so it is a good power source.
But, the gas gauge still doesn't work. its registering .8 ohms of resistance across the points on the back of it. is the gauge bad? i can think of nothing else that could be causing this. it, besides maybe the sending unit not supposed to be grounded with a mounting screw... but that is common from what i have seen.
Ideas?