["QUICK-SILVER"]

Does sound like something made the alternator go wide open.
A short to ground, in the printed circuit, could've been the cause. Especially if it was the strip between ignition switch and gen light. That would've turned the gen light on EXTRA bright and messed with power going to igniton, causing the strange running. AND only lasted till the strip burned away.

Some guages have wire wound regulators/ressistors on the back of them. The winding is very fine hair size wire. Voltage spike or short could've ruined them easily. They are replaceable.

Headlight switch and dimmer, probably didn't have anything to do with it. Could've happened whether lights were on or not.

Pull cluster to check ressistors on back of guages and replace plastic circuit.
Go over all wires and components of charging system. Especially voltage sensing wire to regulator.

A temporary gen light can go in while cluster is out. Then give charging system a GOOD going over, before putting cluster back in. That'll save burning up any new parts.

Take your time and be carefull. Wiring diagram, test light, good volt/ohm meter, and patience should be all you need.

(edit) Bad ground on external voltage regulators is a common problem with over charge.