""try and only make 1 change at a time""
I usually try too but this time I have backed myself into a corner. We have 45 degree weather outside right now and in two days it will be in the 20's. So I am doing a few things together to try and find the issue.
thanks for the reply.

I hope that this loose connection was the issue since the alternator, ammeter connections, and two VR's checked out. I am still a little worried that one loose connector could make the ammeter jump this much. It was the BLUE-RUN wire connector though.
Thanks Robert.