ammeter blowing fuses/ getting hot

My "goto default" argument against Mopar bulkhead connector terminals used to be electric furnaces. "In a previous life" I serviced HVAC/R and lots of heat pumps and or electric furnaces. They use those 1/4" spade/ flag terminals at the heating elements/ protectors/ relays in the controls. The typical 240V electric strip is nominally 20-25 amps so that is what is on those and THEY USED TO FAIL FAIRLY REGULARLY so if they are failing at only 20-25A you can imagine how under-designed they are at say, a 55A alternator

Here's an example of an old school electric strip unit from "back in the day ish"

View attachment 1715970520

View attachment 1715970521
That looks REAL similar to our "now-ish" strip unit.