So I started trying to get the gauges to work properly.
My temp sending unit was fauty. This is how you test it:
Take the green wire attached to the sending unit and ground it on the body of the car or the engine. If the gauge shoots up to the hot mark and goes back to cold when the wire is moved away from the ground then the sending unit is bad.
I tried sourcing one out @ my local parts store but the best they could get me was a unit for $12 which instaled right but if I let the engine get really hot I would barely get a reading on the temp gauge.
Obviously this unit had too much resistance and was not calibrated for the Smiths gauge.
I could buy a new unit on Ebay for about $20 and hope the gauge was not at fault but I opted to do the unthinkable...
I promptly headed over to http://www.oreillyauto.com/EW3/IntroShopping.do aka O'reillys auto and ordered Iequus part #7262 This is an electric water temp gauge with chrome bezel. I could have opted for the black but the black series does not have a fuel gauge available.
More on that later....

The sending unit for the gauge comes with 3 bung adapters for different size holes. Find the right one apply teflon tape and tighten to about 5lbs torque. Then install the sender (also with tape) and tighten the same. The new sender has a bullet tip so cut the old spade connector off the wire and attach the provided connector. Now go to the car and install the gauge. The back is labled (+)light green (s)dark green and (-)needs a ground wire because the unit has a built in voltage regulator. If you do not install the ground wire you will have a hot reading when the engine is barely warm. Now solder the new wires for the light bulb where the old one was and you're done. I think this took about 30 mins total. Cost $22.00