It's true the fusible link could have opened, but be very careful bypassing it. The guy who owned my Challenger before me bypassed the link without knowing why it blew. There was a dash fire and the car basically had no wiring when I bought it. Actually it was all still there-in a puddle on the floor board.
That link keeps things from REALLY going bad...

While outside on the turnpike They got this new hit tune Where thrills become as cheap as gas And gas as cheap as thrills