Help with chassis harness

[Unclelchap]

I hope I'm posting in the right section! I have a 1981 regal with a sbc350. Everything was running fine until during a drive I lost all power and the engine shut down. I originally thought it was my alternator so I changed it and drove out home. Upon inspecting it further, I found that the wires for the starter had melted had melted and fused together. Fast forward to me buying a new chassis wiring harness. I started taking the old stuff out and noticed there was a lot of things that was just rigged together. I don't know how it didn't set fire! Anyway I just snatched all that stuff out and figured I'd start fresh.Everything now works...except the engine won't start! I've wired the msd box per the schematic, and the starter is wired correctly, I believe. I used the Haynes book to wire the steering column. Right now the car is just sitting waiting for completion but I am lost on what to do. Can someone PLEASE HELP? I really need to get her back on the road sooner than later. Thanks in advance!

 

[t01blaze]

Does the engine crank over?

 

[Brother Al]

You may have also burned through the Fusible Links... aka Ground Straps for the Engine... they are designed to protect your electrical system from frying in the event of something like you described... there typically are 3 on a GM engine... 1 from the firewall to the rear of the block... 1 from the front of the block to the framerail, & one from the starter to the framerail... If you've never replaced them, its probably a perfect time to do it... the original ones and the "good" replacement ones are made of woven copper wires coated with tin/zinc alloy. If they failed (designed to when electrical system overloads), your car shouldnt be able to start... not unless you have a serious ground issue... aka a "short"... in which case you'll have all kinds of electrical problems.

 

[Unclelchap]

Does the engine crank over?

No, it doesn't do anything

 

[Unclelchap]

You may have also burned through the Fusible Links... aka Ground Straps for the Engine... they are designed to protect your electrical system from frying in the event of something like you described... there typically are 3 on a GM engine... 1 from the firewall to the rear of the block... 1 from the front of the block to the framerail, & one from the starter to the framerail... If you've never replaced them, its probably a perfect time to do it... the original ones and the "good" replacement ones are made of woven copper wires coated with tin/zinc alloy. If they failed (designed to when electrical system overloads), your car shouldnt be able to start... not unless you have a serious ground issue... aka a "short"... in which case you'll have all kinds of electrical problems.

Thanks I'll look for those. It was starting and running fine until I took the old harness out and put the new one in. I think the "neutral safety switch" was bypassed and now I need it for the new harness. Power is at the fuse block buy when I turn the key power is lost and nothing happens at all.