1995 Chevrolet Silverado electrical sh*tstorm

I am going to explain all the problems that have popped up over the last month. I do not know if they are related or not. About a month ago my transmission statted making a cracking/pinging sound. It sounds like a bolt is bouncing around in the bellhousing/torque converter area. It is not consistent with engine rpm and seems to get louder whenever vehicle weight is pitched back: ie in reverse coming to a stop or in forward gears under acceleration. If I am parked with the nose of truck downhill it will not make the noise untill im driving and hit a bump. If I am parked with the nose uphill it wilm make a terrible screachin/scrathing noise when I start it. So I have been babying it around town lately, no more lead footing for me. Sometimes when I shut off the motor and restart engine the noise will go away. Untill driving and I hit a bump. I have not yet removed the access cover to inspect torque converter bolts to ensure they are tight.
Now here is the latest: as of 2-3 days ago when I tried my shut off/restart methosbof stopping that noise I lost my shifter indicator light, tach and speedometer functions. Also the airbag light flashes and also the check gages is illumonated. The check gages light flashes and fades away but alk other instrument cluster problem I listed remain. Also when it does this the trans shifts hard into gears and will only go in 2nd and 3rd. It starts in 3rd so I have to manually drop it to 1st which puts it in2nd then shift to 3rd or drive to get 3rd gear.
I am at a loss as to what might be causing all this or if they are even related. I know its an old truck with jigh mileage butvits been a strong running horse up until this point. Can anyone give me insight into the problems?