Ammeter Bypass a Must?

Thanks for the condolences. It was a blow for sure.

Well yeah, If the amp gauge is DOA, I don't believe the alternator will charge, because the circuit will be broken. I think that's right.
Cool! I wasn't sure. I swore I read somewhere that the thing would continue to function but I don't see how that is that's main battery voltage coming in. Turn on my 74 Duster a lot of that stuff actually goes to the key switch after the fact, I believe. They had some mad scientist electrical engineers for sure. Back in the 90s I toasted my dash harness on my 68 Coronet 383 4 speed I just went out the junkyard and got one for 10 bucks it was a non-issue then. If I can remember it still kind of sucks doing it... and I was younger then lol