No power after dash upgrade. Zip. Nada.

Hi all. I have been using this forum unregistered for about a year now because you have answered or solved all of my engine problems. Kudos to you smart people for your help.

Now I'm on to wrecking bigger stuff... Like the entire electrical system.
Ok.. First off.. I'm electrically challenged. Of I can't beat it into working with a wrench I'm screwed. I have a 74 Duster that I just installed a new gauge cluster in. By installed I mean I have routed all the sending units. I have only routed power to the volt meter so far. I tested it by a direct hook up to the batt terminals and it reads a strong 12v. So I went to wire it properly through the fusebox and while testing the fuses I noticed there was no power. The big indicator that I might have a problem ce when I relocated the headlight and wiper switch to the new cluster and found that neither work... Key on... No worky. I'm using the same switches and original wiring. I could understand if one wasn't working, but both not working tells me I have messed something up in a big way.

The battery reads 12v with a multimeter.

The car won't start. No even a click. The alternator was pulled and tested good. The started is brand new and worked fine before I did this upgrade.

The Only thing that makes me tilt my head is the ammeter.
I've done a little reading up on them and I really don't know what they do or if it has any bearing on this issue being disconnected.

As is.. I have nothing. No lights, no stereo, no wipers, no start and no apparent power
to the fuse box. I do however have a good battery so logic would indicate that something should work.. At the very least the original wired headlight switch.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Jake