well i kept at this today and i may have made some progress. i put another parts gage/dash incert in and everything is working somewhat. it reads 2.5 volts and the gage registers a little over 3/4 tank. i don'tknow what the problem was. part may have been the dash wasn't grounded since i painted the main dash and the dash insert may not have been grounded. i think i am oing to drive it, still with my gas can, and see if the gage is accurate. it is repeatable for the first time. key off- goes to empty, key on- goes a little over 3/4. i wish i hadn't taken the bed panels i had in loose, but at least i learned a little.
