Dead in the water
First time pulling the instrument panel on my 66 Barracuda I failed to disconnect the battery.
As I'm pulling the instrument panel, the back of the ignition switch touches the dash, I hear a quick arc --- there went the fusible link.
I replaced the fusible link with an inline weatherproof fuse holder and a 40 Amp (or 50, can't remember).
Key take-a-way -- pull the negative battery terminal when working on the instrument panel !!