HUZZAH!!!
Can't thank you guys enough! Finally got it!!!!!!
![headbang](http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/images/smilies/metal.gif)
So it was a bad resistor after all. I checked all 3 resistors that anew4961 sent me, and they all read 82-89 ohms uninstalled. Once installed on the gauge, I got 65 ohms across the resistor. I was getting 209 ohms with my old resistor before, so it ended up being the culprit.
Installed, fired up, and she works! I watch the gauge gradually rise to right about the middle or maybe just a hair to the left of middle, and it holds.
I can't tell you how happy I am!!! This was quite the exercise to troubleshoot and I wouldn't have been able to do it without the help of the awesome boardmembers here! Thank you all!! SOOO STOKED right now!!!!!