Figured out the problem guys..seems as though my voltmeter gauge has both main power wires connected to the back of it, each on it's own threaded stud, the solid thick white wire, and the thick white wire with the red stripe on it, are the wires. While connected, and grounded, the gauge completes the circuit for constant power it seems. But while mine was connected it would not work, so I took them both off the gauge completely, and connected them straight together and BAM. Dome light turned on and the car lives once again! I'm going to get a new gauge to replace the old one, and run switched power to it. It used to run off the main two power wires previously connected.
Thank you guys for the help!