Alternator not charging + multiple meltdowns…HELP!!!

Good evening, I thank those who read this whole post in advance.

here goes…

My ‘71 Demon has an externality regulated alternator, but when I discovered it was not charging I threw an internally regulated alternator on and assumed it would work fine. I assumed wrong. About a half a mile down the road I start smelling electrical smells and I start seeing smoke coming from under the dash. After returning the car home and blowing the dash apart, I found I had melted the lead 12v connection for the key (blue w/ white tracer.) I replaced the wire and managed to repair the bulkhead with hot glue. Being a broke college student unable to pony up for a quality repro harness, it is kind of imperative I keep the original. Some time goes by and I have some time to mess with the car again. I replaced the voltage regulator and still no charge. I then realized that the blue wire coming from the voltage regulator needs key-on 12v, but once I spliced a wire from the fuse box to that blue wire, my new wire burned up and the 12v wire for the key I had recently replaced started to melt as well. Right now the car just runs on the battery, and even with a full charge it doesn’t run the same as it once did. It loses power under load and even just putting around. I’ve lost turn signals as well. Any tidbits of information or possible solutions to my problem would be greatly appreciated.

important details to note:
- originally a /6 column auto converted to 360 and a833 (non v8 engine harness)
- MSD 6AL ignition box and pro billet distributor
- Digitails LED taillights