Kerry B wrote:As an added note, there is a switch under the dash above the storage tray on the right side that at some point had been attached to the dash lights, although I can't think why you would want to switch them off.
That's standard on everything except HPF, which had a different headlamp switch that can be turned to dim or turn off the dash lighting. Should be a slide switch. From the Magnum handbook: "The instrument lights are controlled by a slide-type switch located at the drivers end of the bottom edge of the instrument panel, below the face level vent, and the circuit is arranged so that the sidelight switch must be in the 'ON' position before the instruments can be illuminated."
That's a nasty-looking melted circuit you've got there, though the clock doesn't run through it of course, it has separate wires running to the two contacts on the back of it. My Firenza had something heavy wired to the dash lighting circuit before I bought it that caused the wire to burn out - caused some damage to the loom behind the dash, and it would be worth checking yours for signs of damage while the dash is out of the way. I guess back then people didn't want to bother adding stuff like radios in with a proper wire back to the fuse box.
Kerry B wrote: and not insulating tape though !
Quite right, no place for insulating tape on a wiring loom. Not so bad under the dash (though still "wrong"), but in the engine bay the heat starts to melt the glue. Should use proper loom tape, though I always have to pop a blob of glue to stop the ends coming undone, I've never managed to get it to hold itself in place like it should.