a puff of smoke and now nothing 69 valiant electrical issue

Dana67Dart said
Connector nut?

almost sounds like he hooked one ammeter wire to a chassis ground stud.

does he know FOR SURE the smoke was inside the car not under the hood?

he was unsure. I know that the fuse box smells like a fuse box should not smell. the nut was one of the nuts that hold in a gauge