OK, I got up under the dash and tested the instrument voltage regulator. It is working properly and appears to have been changed out to a new solid state version. The oil and water gauges I now believe are working, just not very responsive or accurate. I am attributing this to being 49 years old. The fuel gauge is still pegged empty. Grounding the sender does nothing. I found the fuel gauge to be wired backwards though. The 5 volt lead was where the sender lead should be and vice versa. Could this fry the gauge? I,m thinking it might.
Thanks
Arno