No power
Any thoughts and help will be greatly appreciated.
If the Fuse Box does not have the full battery voltage then you need to check where the fusible links get their power. On my 1988 C4 Coupe it is behind the battery under the side panel. There is a large ~6 gauge wire feeding the little post that supplies power to the fusible links. The power comes from the battery through the fusible links (assuming they are good) and to the fuse box. So if the fuses are not seeing full voltage it is likely the fusible link connections that are corroded.
On my Corvette the post had serious corrosion and that led to a almost 2 volt drop at the fuse panel. The post needed to be taken apart and properly cleaned and re-assembled. This one post supplies 7 fusible links that feed a majority of the Car's power to the accessories. The fusible links are the last effort to protect the Corvettes Electrical system from damage in a bad short or overloading of a particular circuit. If you still have accessories without power check the fuse that corresponds to that circuit, if there is no power at the fuse then your issue is with a Fusible Link near the battery. You can test them using pins to pierce the insulation above and below the fusible section. Be sure to cover the holes in the insulation when done as not to introduce corrosion inside the wire's insulation.
After re-reading your post your issues are most likely at the battery connectors. You need to verify the ground connection on your Corvette as well. Sometimes the negative side of the battery is where the problems start. Check to be sure the engine is grounded properly. First measure the battery voltage directly at the battery. Then leave the red wire on the battery positive and put the black lead on the engine block and measure the voltage, they should be very, very close or there is a problem with the battery ground. If the ground is compromised be sure to fix it wherever the bad connection is. Look for loose or broken ground straps, when I bought my 1988 it was only 10 years old and several of my ground straps were broken or barely connected.
Annual battery maintenance is really important, batteries require maintenance despite the manufacturers claims. They have made checking the electrolyte very difficult on automobile batteries. I still pop the covers and check the levels of the electrolyte and add distilled water if needed before charging. Most automobile batteries are not "completely" charged with the alternator alone. I remove the battery and top of the electrolyte, clean the terminals and the battery and then I hook it up to a four stage charger that ensures the battery is charged fully. My Corvette batteries spend their winter on a workbench where they are regularly charged and kept in less severe weather. When re-installed they get charged first and then installed with battery grease keeping oxidation under control and ensuring that I have a good solid battery connections.
Best regards,
Chris

















