Gauge Cluster Issues/IVR

I've never seen any coating/plating on these studs. I have seen a lot of them very rusty though.
About that limiter... at minimum you would have to pull the panel, take to workbench, remove the bezel, lift the fuel gauge and put a layer or 2 of electric tape over that slither of metal to isolate that limiter from ground. Wire in a substitute.
I'm a firm believer in doing all I can to prevent tomorrows problems while I'm there. Mostly because they seem to occur at the most inopportune times. Maybe that's just my luck. Maybe the points in yours wont stick closed a cook gauges. It happens. Maybe yours will just die.
When and where will you be when you suddenly have no gauges?