Need help/fuel gauge

I have a 1982 skylark with 250k on the clock. Last night my headlight and my gas gauge died. I replaced the light but not sure how to fix the gauge. The needle started to point at the 3 o'clock position.

start hunting down your ground wires and make sure they are clean. IE: wires to the fuel tank and or sender unit. Wire harness plug ins and wires going into the plug socket, cracked, corroeded or broken wires on the outside of the plug itself.
someone correct me if I am wrong but a guage that reads three (3) oclock would show an open circuit. (no ground). The positive is still connected giving you the movement to the 3oclock posisition.

Thanks GAS, this all happened during a recent rain storm so a bad or wet wire makes sense.