Also, here is a link to a wiring diagram for a '74. You'll need this to trace through the circuit.

http://fordification.net/tech/images...aster_3of8.jpg

You can see the resistance wire at the top (BLACK with GREEN stripe). The resistance value is shown as a lumped element in the second quarter from the right at the top. On most early model Fords, the resistor wire is crimped together at the cluster connector with a short length of dummy wire because the gauge of the resistance wire itself is too thin for most crimp terminals. This should make it easy to spot in the cluster connector.

The ICVR and gauges are shown toward the left.

 

Ok heres what I have gathered from my multi-meter. I did a continuity test on the ORANGE wire that goes to the sending unit and the meter gave an audible tone as it did from that wire and every wire to the cluster. After I did that, I set the meter to voltage and started testing everything. The ICVR is in good working order. At the yellow pigtail I have 12v and the ORANGE wire at the sending unit I have 12v. I then set the meter to ohms it read .0355 and I probably have a quarter tank more or less.

So, what next?

 

Did you perform the continuity between the guage out and the sending unit?

 

Explain once again is to how to do that please.

 

Never mind, I figured it out. I placed one prong on one of the gauge post and the other to the orange wire at the sending unit and it is good.

 

So, any other ideas?

 

Unplug the sending unit, and check between the orange wire and the ground. Your wire may grounding somewhere in the harness.

 

Ground and orange wire is good.

 

Well, what would be causing the orange wire spark and get hot when I ground it out?

 

What I meant was, check between your orange wire with it unplugged and the ground if it beeps that means you are grounding prematurely and that would throw your gauge off.

 

That something is fubarred, either you have a chaffed harness, or someone has modified the wiring.

 

I got what you meant. It has an audible tone orange to ground. So, its grounding prematurely then.

 

Yep now have fun finding where.

The key here is to isolate circuits...

 

By the harness do you mean where it plugs into the back of the cluster?

 

Not necessarily. I mean the bundle of wires between the beginning of the circuit and te end of it.