Long story short, after 4 years ownership, the car is finally going back together. Sat for 35 years prior. Got the dash in and fired the motor up. The only thing that works is the amp gage. No dash lights and no other gages. (I do have the brake light and high beam light working) Nothing else. Hooking the wiring harness back up to the panel was a no brainer. Everything plugs in. Only had to use the service manual for a couple of lights other than the dash lights.
It almost sounds like a ground wire is missing since nothing works but there is none. I replaced the fuse with no difference. I can't find my tester so I have to get another one.
Any thoughts?
Dave
If it makes a difference, All of the harnesses are hooked up for the front and rear lighting but they are not connected to the lights yet.

You need at least a test light to trace the problem. If you get a flashing power source at the temp sender than you may have a gauge problem if you don't get a flashing power supply then it's most likely the voltage limiter on the back of the dash cluster.

The common denominator between the dash lights and the gauges is the printed circuit board. They all have a common ground. Now, do the dash lights over by the clock/tach and in between the tach/clock and speedo work? Those light bulbs are powered by individual orange wires. If that doesn't work, then you might have double troubles. Also, you may wish to doubel check or replace the voltage limiter for the dash gauges. 3 of the 4 run off the 5v feed it supplies. The amp gauge doesn't. If ALL the lights don't work and you've replaced or know the fuse in the fuse box works, then it might be the dimmer switch.

The cluster grounds thru the dash frame, you will need all the nuts tight and make sure the frame and the rear of the cluster is clean. It could also be ur head light switch or dimmer switch. But usually it's the cluster not grounded.

I'll have more time tomorrow to look at this. I wouldn't think that's it's the voltage limiter cause the dash lights don't work either. The dimmer switch doesn't seem the problem either cause when I hit the high beams the light comes on the dash. (the only light besides the blinker lights to come on)I think the 1st thing to do is run a ground wire to the cluster and see if that cures the issue and then go from there.
Dave

The voltage limiter has nothing to do with the lights. They are completely unrelated.

For dash lights: Check Grounds, Check rheostat. Does your radio light up and do your courtesy lights work?

For gauges: I'm not sure if the Charger has an integral CVR or a seperate one. If seperate, change it. Same thing as above, check all grounds.

If CVR and ground checks out, ground temp sender lead underhood. If temp gauge rises, the sender is bad. Do the same for Oil Pressure. And again for fuel gauge.