Replaced my turn signal switch now my gas and temp gauge peg!

Well, I can't see where connecting the battery with the steering column connectors off would do that. I more suspect the smokey smell was the indicator of this... and it is just a failure. Or there is a shorted wire in the cluster area that is shorting the voltage limiter and burning it up.

Was this a new voltage limiter? If so, what type/brand? If new, then it is quite possible that the wiring from the limiter moved or somehow got shorted and damaged it.