[fordnut]

Buzz, I have had a problem much like yours,with the fuel gauge. disconnect the dash light from the gauge. that is the common connection between the lighting system and the gauges. next hook up a temporary ground from the battery direct to the fuel gauge and also to the sending unit. do this before you change componers. alot cheeper. your problem sounds like a ground problem for the gauges and too small of a fuse on the lights you should have a circuit breaker on lights it will self reset when it cools down and allow the lights to come back on. ford cars have a circuit breaker built into the head light switch. (30 amp)