an electrical nightmare , please help , 1972 dart

Bypass the ammeter as a start. and as stated above, voltage regulator.
Break it down into basics and just try to get one piece of info at a time...
Does battery drain without key on? Short at headlight switch? starter/solenoid.
Does battery drain with key in "on" but car not running? (short in column/ dash...)

Some items have hot wires all the time, brake switch, headlight switch etc...others only when key on (ignition sytem)