Hot ammeter

Since the car is new to you, examine the entire wiring.
Note any modifications, splices, repairs.
Examine in particular
- the battery feed to the bulkhead and look on the inside too at the matching cavity.
- the alternator output line to the bulkhead and look on the inside too at the matching cavity.
- steering column connector to the ignition switch.

If there were high currents now or in the past, these are places where most likely to find damage.