Continuing Temperature Gauge Issues

[tdangle]

I have been having strange temp gauge problems. Seems to really float around going from barely warm to almost hot and back within a few seconds. I have verified the temp of the engine with a thermal gun and it is fine. I have a new 180 thermostat, new sending unit (actually have 3 new units). I know as the sending unit goes to ground the gauge reads hotter. Couple of days ago the gauge dropped to cold and I figured the wire came off of the sending unit. I turned the ignition off and for some reason I turned it right back on with out even starting the engine. Gauge went from cold to normal. cycled the ignition switch a few times and gauge reading varied. First I was thinking the power to the instrument panel has an issue, but the fuel gauge reads correctly all the time. Is it possible I have a flaky temp gauge? I really don't want to just throw new parts at it with out somehow verifying the problem.