Ok, I have most of the dash wires buttoned up and fixed. The ammeter wires are attached but obviously not to the bulkhead connector.

Could a short on the engine side of the harness cause this kind of short? If so, wouldn't the black wire to the alternator be cooked as well? Are we guessing the short is on the engine side?

I am trying to figure out what my next step would be. As far as tracing wires for a short. I will use my test light, hook up the battery ground and my light to positive and start tracing from my "battery stud" under the hood back.