More Electrical Help ...

62 Valiant body wiring diagram.jpg 62 valiant inst panel wiring.jpg 62 valiant engine wiring.jpg
Lets step back and see if we can understand what is you have and what is going on.
If you can take a photo of the '62 engine and inteiror wiring diagrams from the FSM it will help us see what differences with '62. Send me an email address (If allowed) and I will email the FSM drawings... otherwise I will take a photo...

Stock wiring? YES
Are there any electrical items added or alternations? NO
With what are you measuring the voltage? Could it be a setting on the meter? Scaling or zero function? DIGITAL MULTIMETER...pretty sure the settings are correct...

The ammeter is basically a big fat metal plate with a little parallel circuit which moves the needle to show discharge or charge. For example engine off, dome light on, you'll see a small amount of discharge on the needle. Before I lost everything, this was the case...now all is dead. Zero volts anywhere inside the car...
High voltage alone shouldn't damage it. Excess current through it can melt things depending on how much current, for how long, and how that particular meter is constructed. If you see it pegged either direction - that's too much! Roger...I tried to insert a voltage limiter.

OK - was able to get these as a .jpg...thanks so much for all your patience and help...