M.B.Doc: per your advice I shorted pins 30 and 87 on the K38 relay (starter interlock) and the car started up just fine (well sort of...see my other post about the BRAKE light/buzzing here ).

Now, what is the name of this relay on fastlane? I can't seem to find it. Hopefully replacing the relay will solve my problem for good.

Edit2: is the p/n: P2020-25016 under Relays... i found this one that looks exactly like the K38 (and has the same pin numbers). Is there any difference between the hella and the silver (OEM looking) one?

Thanks guys for all your help!

Edit (more problems): The P.O. had done some work behind the cluster before as the ABS (or SRS I'm not recalling right now) had an extra wire coming from the circular plug on the opposite side of the insturment cluster. This wire was eletrical taped on at both ends. So>> after shorting the relay, testing the start, and then plugging everything back into the insturment cluster none of the guages work properly. The tach jumps at start up and promptly falls back to 0, oil pressure hovers just off the needle and fuel + temp have no response (although i didn't drive the car so dunno about the temp function). The lights still come on with the headlamps if that means anything.