[mvfd70]

My 97 Z71 has a volt meter and it shows zero with the key off. Turn the key on and it reads 12 volts. Start the engine and it reads 13 to 14 volts. I only mention this because I had a cell in my battery go bad the other day and with the key on and engine off it only read 8 to 10 volts. I know this isn't a 67-72 truck but it's the same principle. I agree with others saying that the volt meter should read 0 with the key off. I also agree with the above couple of statements that say that you have a volt meter hooked up to a wire that should be an ammeter. Change the volt meter to a switched power source and/or install an ammeter where you have the volt meter hooked up to now.