"First according to my infrared therm. the heads near the intake never went
above about 200 so was that hot enough for the cht to register?  The
needle on the cht guage didn't move ever.  I hope to drive the van soon,
at what temp should the guage register?  Are there ways to test the
guage/sender."

Hey John,

The sender on the CHT gauge generates its own voltage when heated up.  You
can test to make sure the sender is working by hooking it up to a volt
meter and then holding the sender ring under a lighter.  You should get a
measureable voltage.  I have done this, but i don't remember what the
magnitude of the voltage was, pretty low I think.  If the sender is
working then connect it to the gauge and again hold the sender under a
flame.  You should get a reading.  Just don't make the same mistake I did
and run power to the sender circuit on the back of the gauge.  That fried
the gauge in short order!

good luck,
jake