The battery still reads 27 VDC across the poles. I am going to where I purchased it to have it tested / replaced before I do anything else stupid...OK - back with new battery...so any testing I should do with battery disconnected?
First check your meter. Grab another battery to compare 'cause its pretty impossible to increase voltage in a battery. Any good battery. Just see if its ballpark correct.
Be super careful working all of the main wires since they all connect to the battery! On '62 I don't beleive there is even a fusible link. So if you ground anything in that circuit it will be welding!
Well something burned through or melted. The question is what.
First thing is get make sure your multimeter is working.
Then you can seek out the circuit break as I suggested last night, or instead use a test light with the same method. Start at the battery and check at each accessible point in the circuit.
You could also look for continuity by leaving the battery disconnected and using the ohmmeter function.
