Cranks & Turns over + 75A fuse question

[trynam4size]

[Short Version]
What could cause my car: to turn over/start, have working dash lights the first day, not have working dash lights the 2nd and 3rd day.

[Long Version]
Alright guys after 1 years wait, 52 - a few vacation days of work [one day per week]. She finally started up. However I'm running into some issues, and could use some guidance.

Misc: - Automatic to Manual transmission
- Car had an alarm system [not sure what it was]

1st time) The initial set up was: - UNPLUGGED FUEL RELAY, attached battery, and key in ignition.
(Goal) To crank the engine to get oil around the crucial parts.
Did not attempt to turn over the engine because it was getting really late. All my lights on my cluster works.

2nd time [2 days later] Set up: same as 1st time. However this time, I didn't attempt to crank at all because I noticed my dash cluster lights don't work [light up] anymore. I go around checking fuses and noticed the ALT 75A is blown. So here's a question: How much is the stock alternator pulling, what fuse[100A?] would I need to prevent it from blowing. Stopped and pondered for the rest of the day.

3rd time [5 days later] I thought about it and realized [correct me if I'm wrong] I should still technically be able to turn the engine without the 75A, because that would only signal that my battery is not charging. [I'm not planning on going anywhere yet]. Cranked it a couple of times, and finally decided to start it [NO working dash lights, didn't try headlights/tail...]. She fired after a couple cranks.


Essentially I have a car that starts, but doesn't have working instruments. [ I haven't tried radio or lights yet]

What would you [the person reading] do in my case, what would you check next? [I had the wiring done by Carl and I think that, that shouldn't be a problem]

Any help would be great, Thanks everyone.

Namco

[platez808]

so wait.. is it only the gaugle cluster lights not working or does the whole cluster itself (including tach, speedo, engine temp, etc) not work?

[trynam4size]

Thanks for the reply.

After looking at it [while waiting for a response] it turns out it was shorting near the alternator. [To answer your question, it was the whole cluster, no speedo, no tach.. no nothing.] But my car is alive now with everything working. Didn't know an engine short could mess up everything in the cluster. Thanks again for the response! Now to smog it... =]

[platez808]

haha well glad you figured it out man. congrats so now go have some relatively safe fun hahaha