ECT and OE temp gauge

Hey there. I have the frustrating and dreaded "94-95 GT ping". I have looked in the archives but can't find anything about whether or not the ECT is also the input for the OE temp gauge. My gauge always sits at about the "no" part of normal. No matter how hot it gets outside. The car does have to warm up for the gauge needle to move. I replaced the rad and coolant, this past Spring.

I have replaced the fuel filter, cleaned the MAF, replaced the ACT, checked timing (10 degrees, perfectly). I have also run the "Sea Foam" through the gas AND the intake. I guess that the ECT is next? What then?

I feel that the car should run on the recommended 87 octane, so that's what I run in it. I have tried several different gas stations to eleiminate "bad gas" as the problem. I don't hear it every time that the pedal is floored, just once in a while. Sometimes worse than others. I want to get this fixed, before I yank it apart to put the ported GT40's and Explorer intake on it.

TIA. Rob

Aren't these things like $20? I'm not sure I have something that will let me control the temps enough to test one.

Where is the temp table for it?

I have "real" gauges. Just not installed yet.

Yes, only at WOT. If I back off a little, the pinging goes away.
Do you mean you would like to see fuel pressure at WOT? I'm assuming you are on the path of a fuel pump deficiency? That's in the works for future mods. It can be moved to the front of the list, if necessary. It currently has the 12 year old OE pump.