Found my dads original 1971 duster!

Mattax said

Nothing so far screams gages failed.
You all connected a "12 V" power source to the key switch feed. Pretty much the same as would be normal.
Nothing else is needed to start.
Where is the other half of that cut wire J1 ?
Even if it the car battery was disconnecte,the main splice would get energized by the alternator once the engine was running. If the other half of J1 touched ground => smoke.

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Thanks so much for all of the help! Noel came by today and helped me get the dash out (amazing of him!). Here are some updates with pics:

Took dash out- no visible burnt wires or connections- took a pic of amp wires as builder installed them. The fuel gauge cluster smells badly of burnt electronic smell

Joined the wire back together than my friend cut

Joined the 2 amp wires (black and red) together with a bolt and electrical tape….hooked battery up and it started instantly!! Runs like a champ!

The wire that my friend cut wasn’t contacting anything while it was cut

So I guess the question is why have I never been able to get power for any lights, gauges etc. Maybe bad amp module?

At this point I’m thinking of taking my gauge cluster in to have everything checked

Also, the ground from the steering column was just hanging there. Not hooked to anything