[V8] I'm In! But (surprise, surprise) I've got some questions . . .

[daves745t at optonline.net]

I wanted to thank everyone for the replies - sure puts me at ease, especially since the mechanic said nothing about the various gauge readings and he said he took it out of the highway. But it sounds as if the reason he said nothing is because all looked normal to him.

The only thing I was able to do today was to run out and check to see if the license plate lights lit when the headlights were on. They did not - so I pulled the bulbs. Neither the bulbs nor the socket were corroded at all, but I bought new bulbs anyway.  Put them in and still nothing - meaning the dash lights are still not on AND the license plate lights still do not light, so I assume (could actually check) that no juice is getting to license plate lights either.  

Does this seem to point more to the dimmer switch/rheostat as Roger suggested?

-DaveM