Apologize for the long post.. but It's electrical ....

This is a 1980 244 GL automatic w/140,000 miles. I think my problems started when I was took the console front off to replace/fix faulty dash lites. They just went out one day. While repairing that (just jiggling wires, cleaning up connections, replacing a bulb maybe) I caused a spark or two.. but no apparent problem. When I screwed everything back together, nothing worked (except the dash lites, of course). No idiot lites, car cranks, but no go. After a couple of hours, she starts right up. Problem solved [I wish]

The next morning... Chapter 2

The cars starts up perhaps a little slowly. Plenty of power, no hesitation. After driving about 1 mile from my house Amp lite comes on. I was able to Turn around and get about 1/4 mile, before the engine dies. I notice the gauges dropping as if I had turned off the car. Horn toots fine, wipers wipe, but.. Repeated attempts to restart fail. Towed home... Two hours later, after doing nothing but looking, it starts right up.

I go to NAPA, get new fuses. Clean the contacts, and install some new ones (not all). I replaced a couple of 16 amp ceramics with the glass ones. I think that was a mistake, because the heater blower didn't work after that. I open the fuse cover, and see the glass one had pretty much fallen out. I go to another parts store, and replace the glass with the (red) 16 amp ceramic.

Last night I drive around 10 miles around town, and no problem. I leave town about a half hour later, and get about 4 miles. I turn a corner, and the car stalls without warning. (This car never stalls). I turn the key, and she starts right up. Get on the highway for about 3 miles. No problem.

Return from the store after being parked for about 30 minutes. Drive on the highway just fine. At the end of my journey, about 5 miles later, engine dies. I turn the key, it starts right up. No warning for the stall.

Today, I'm taking apart the console. I'm cleaning contacts, I'm looking for a culprit thinking since my problems started here, the solution must be here. Couldn't figure out a thing...I replaced the fuel pump relay with one from another '80 that I know works. I turn on the ignition, and I get no idiot lites. Try again, and lites appear as expected, and off I go.

I drive on the highway. It's fine. I go 20 miles. Every now and again I pull over, I stop and restart the car. Works like new. No problem. I'm 50 yards from my house figuring problem solved, and the "amp" lite comes on again. Car stalls right in front of my house. I check the fuel relay: warm, not hot. I check the connection at the firewall, I wiggle it a little. No evidence of brittle or exposed wires. I get in the car. It starts right up. Like nothing happened.

My question is what do I do... Where should I start? I have the '80 wagon which has no electrical problems that I'm sending to the junk yard. Before I do, I could trade out parts. I just don't know where to start. Any suggetions would be greatly apprecitated!