Ammeter is fully functional! Where do I start diggin this kinda thing makes me nervous

Its a 73 dart....derp

I can't imagine any one thing that could kill the speedometer/odometer and other gauges all at once except physical damage (severe impact or overheating) or being disconnected entirely. The speedometer/odometer takes no power from the electrical system and also doesn't require a ground.

I suspect you have multiple problems, unless someone just forgot to reconnect the instrument cluster when putting it back in.

The cluster lights up... but I crammed my big ole noggin under there and could not find a speedo cable comin out of the dash...

Dead speedo + odo means either you need a new speedometer cable or the speedo head itself is broken. The cable failure is most likely and not difficult or costly to fix: buy and install a new cable.

Fuel + temp gauge both dead most likely means the instrument cluster voltage limiter has failed. It's a small metal box that plugs into the back of the instrument cluster. The best replacement comes from R/T Engineering. Be advised that if your original limiter failed with its breaker points closed, it will have pegged the fuel and temp gauges and cooked them to death, then you'll need new gauges and a new limiter.

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Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

The temp gauge will move a tiny bit as I drive.... good sign?

The fact your temp gauge moves a little is not especially a good nor a bad sign. It tells you your fuse and regulator aren't entirely open, but little else. You can start troubleshooting w/o removing the instrument cluster.

Your factory service manual (FSM) is your friend and the best investment you could make. As an easy test, get a light-blub-type 12V test light and connect it between the temp or gas sender sender connection and a good ground - it ought to blink at ~2/sec-ish when it's warmed up and read ~1/2 way-ish. The oil/temp/gas gauges all use ~10ohms for hi/hot/full and ~77ohms for lo/cold/empty - I made a little box with those 2 values of power resistors just for easy testing of my gauges.

If the gauges quit together, chances are that the fuse or voltage limiter has gone south, an inexpensive and easy swap. If it failed open, no harm done, if the limiter failed on, then it would have pegged the gauges and quickly burned them out (an expensive fix). Good luck.

Ok thanks for all the info! My temp gauge has been working off and on as I drive it... this is my daily driver so I don't have the time to invest in repairs I wish I had, but I try to at least fix one thing a day, so far so good...

I found the speedo cable broken right by the opening for the tranny, there is a plastic housing coming out of the tranny but I can't figure how to remove it...

Should be a bolt (1/2" i think) and a horse-shoe looking 'clip' holding the cable end into the trans...

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MRO....

Cheap, Fast, Reliable.... Pick 2...

Off work for a couple days and I've been diggin around, I found 2 connectors one single and one double... there is little box that has plugs that fit however when I hooked one of em up it made a wicked buzzing noise...