Dead short?

Without knowing "what wire" you are talking about, very very hard to say

Here is the 'massive shorts' strategy

(This can get complicated FAST when somebody has hacked up factory wiring)

First, you need to protect against further damage.

So "get" some stuff

If you don't already, get a multimeter, a 12V test lamp and a bag of clip leads from Radio Shack (if they are still in business)

Get a factory service manual. You can download them here

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?p=1970088617

http://www.mymopar.com/index.php?pid=31

and, READ this article. It gives you good insight and a simplified diagram of the basic power distribution

http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/amp-gauges.shtml

Also, get yourself a "heavy" test lamp. This can be an old headlight that works, or an old stop / tail light socket with an 1157 bulb. You can hook the wires together in different ways for more or less wattage

THEN remove the battery ground, and hook your "heavy" test lamp IN SERIES with the ground cable

THIS gives you an indication of current flow, while providing protection. That is you can "throw a wrench" across the alternator output stud and all that will happen is your test lamp will light up bright!!!

You won't smoke anything more this way.

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Now I'm gonna give you some bad news. From what you describe with the ignition switch, it just might be that you have suffered a major short, and the wiring in the harness, BOTH in the engine bay and under the dash, has melted itself together and caused more (welded) shorts.

Hook up your series test lamp. Get a light? Check everything, make sure everything is OFF and make sure the trunk light hood light (if present) and most certainly the dome light is out.

Still have a light?

Pull the fuses one at a time and see if that "kills" the light

No?

Unbolt and tape off the alternator output wire, does that do anything?

If not, this could be trouble.

Go inside and pull the ignition switch connector apart. Still have a light?

Might be time to pull it apart. Drop the column, pull the cluster, and strip the under-dash harness out. Take photos and or tag stuff so you know where it goes.

Pull the engine bay harness out. Unlikely this problem is in the "lighting" or "wiper" hareness, I would not pull them out. But DO examine them visually.

Now, what do you want to do?

1........You can lay out the harness on a bench, nail it down, tie / tape off the branches, and cut loose the wrapping, and inspect the harness and repair it

2.........Find a "good" used harness

3........Spend money and buy a "repop" new harness

4.......Spend money and buy a generic aftermarket harness