1976 Scamp fuel gauge problems

As guessed, I have a 1976 Plymouth Scamp and today I finally decided to figure out why the fuel gauge doesn't work. I probed the sender and I got 61.2 ohms, so, figuring it was low on gas I went and filled it and checked after I got back. Still 61.2 ohms coming out of the tank. I probed the wire that plugged onto it and I got battery voltage of 12.5 volts and 14.2 with the engine running. If I'm right, this means the regulator in the dash has failed. My question would be, if I'm getting voltage back to the tank is the gauge still good and only the sender burned out? I always thought that it might've been a bad wire somewhere because the temp gauge still works properly because it work off the the regulator as well, doesn't it? I just got the car and from the 13 years the last owner had it, the fuel gauge never worked. I'm wondering if I should try shorting the wire at the tank to ground to see if the gauge pegs. Do you think this would be a good idea or would I risk burning up a gauge that may still work? This car is a little bit crust and the whole cluster other than the temp, odometer, seat belt light/buzzer, and an oil light that's stuck on is totally dead. But like I said, if the temp and fuel both work off of the dash regulator, why would one be working and the other not? Is the '76 12 volt gauges or are the 6 like the older models? Any help on what I should try would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.