Wiper switch circuit breaker and a jolt

1964 dart, push button, auto. Recently reassembled the dash with new wire harness.....only driven car half dozen times, but last time I got a good jolt when I lifted the park lever. While trying (unsuccessfully, of course) to reproduce this apparent short, I could hear a very faint sound that can be best described as grinding, for a second. Then it sounds like the wiper switch circuit breaker , I assume, cycling on and off about every five seconds. "Boing, click."
I tightened the wiper switch retaining ring, thinking the switch had a poor ground.
No change.
It may be that the circuit breaker sound and the jolt I got are not related.
I also add that the wipers are not working, not are headlights....acc fuse is tested ok.

I wonder if the whole shift mechanism is supposed to be grounded /isolated from dash metal?

Any suggestions what might be going on?
Thanks.