Sounds like a fuse issue.

 

I got to checking on it, and I found the tail light and dash panel light fuse was blown. I changed the fuse and it blew again. I must have a short somewhere?

 

Did it blow immediately after turning the key on?

 

I dealt with something similar to your situation. The fuses to both the lights and power windows blew.

The source was my rear tail light sockets were blowing the fuse.

It blew when I turned the key to start.

 

Yes, it did blow right away

 

You just replaced both sockets?

 

I have oversized LED bulbs installed. The ears in the sockets were not making contact.

I just bent them back and all was good.

 

I thought I read something about tail light wires having exposed and shorting to ground through the body...

 

It's a big possibility. I haven't noticed any exposed wiring. But then again, the grounds could be loose and shorting the circuit.