that doesn't sound right.
the two wires at the amp meter can be wired together to complete the circuit.
That should not have blown the fusable link, unless you grounded them some how.

check for power at the amp meter, it sounds like you are not completing the circuit still.
check inside the bulkhead and see if power is making it in, as it sounds like it isn't.

if you have power to one side and not the other of the bulkhead, split it and see if burned something or broke the connectoin there.