Electrical Help Needed - Big Time

I assume you have everything connected properly. Definitely a short somewhere. The fusible link is/was doing exactly what it should do.
A short in the ignition switch, feeds to the fuse box, headlights, etc.. would cause it. All those larger gauge wires beyond that link.
Anything that is fused at the fuse box would or should blow that fuse rather than blowing the fusible link.