Taking the plunge
Okay. I used your suggestion, fixed it up, taped over the contacts. And it worked! With that fuse out, it cranks fine.
So, I put the fuse in. Gauges came on, fuse did not blow, so that's good. Now I turned the key to crank it and I got a click but no cranking. Tried it again, same thing. Tried it a third time, no click.
Took the fuse back out and it cranks fine again.
So it's progress! I think I'm really close