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??