today i just replaced the shunt /resisitor (the ceramic piece) on the back of my faulty fuel gauge that i got from fix-a-gauge. it said to turn the original ceramic resistor over so the painted side faces the gauge, then install the spads of the new shunt in top of it, and then tighten the nuts. i did all of this and now the fuel gauge goes way past full. did i install it wrong?

When the fuel gauge circuit goes open it pegs the gauge. Check your sender and make sure it doesn't go open circuit through it's travel range.

Y'all know that you can buy those ceramic resistors new now right? http://www.truckandcarshop.com/trucks60_72/t60_034.html

I love that place's online catalog...

You probably found fault number 2 in your dead guage.
Before getting out (or buying) a multimeter, I say do the obviouse checks first. Look at the brown wire that is on the fual tank. It goes under the drivers chrome trim in the door jamb, then goes up the floor by the high beam switch, then up to the fuse box.
Inspect this wire...esp if there is any rust in the chrome trim there... more than 50% of the time I have found that brown wire to be broken, and almost every time, right there by the high beam switch, or the door opening.

thanks, ill look at it tomorrow. however, i think that the gauge now reads really high now. but i will give the wire a look over.