wiring check

Forget the INST. The cig lighter/ dome light etc should be hot at all times. I'm beginning to wonder---either the harness is mis wired or the big splice in the black ammeter wire is broken.--Assuming it is actually "like the factory." Is there any larger feed wires like no 12 that you cannot account for?

You should be able to LOOK at the rear of the fuse panel and see the busses. They will be large brass pieces attached to one end of the fuses. As I said, one section will be "hot" only with key "on" and the other should be "hot" at all times.

The "key on" one feeds stuff like radio, heater, turn signals, that comes on with the key