Dash gauge problems

Yeah at first, last evening, I was typing "color me clueless" because the amo gauge is totally seperate from the rest of the instrument panel. Then I thought it might be that a amp gauge wire chafed until shorted to one of the other gauge posts. OK sparks from a short isn't exactly fire. Then I thought well... a water leak could cause a similar short too.
This morning I'm thinking a short circuit could be anywhere foom the alternator harness ( the temp sender wire is taped in with ) all the way back to the bulkhead connector.
Questions... Do you have a solid state inst' voltage regulator or the original limiter inside the fuel gauge ?
Does the stock oil pres' gauge still work ?