truck was running fine but now wont even crank help!!!

[Blue1971FordTruck]

i have a 1971 ford f100 and i just dropped a 302 that i built and i had it to where it would start first turn of the key, and i just got done working on the transmission and now i went to drive it for the first time in 8 years yesterday and it barely would go... after me and my teacher figured it out and it wouldn't start without a battery charger (brand new battery) and now it wont even crank the only thing that will kick on was the radio and now that won't even kick on........ what the heck could it be??? help me figure it out please (the only thing that i can figure that it could be is that i have long tube headers and the starter wire has melted a little bit) any ways ever since last year when io started working on it there has been something funny about the electrical..... please help me any thing you have to suggest to try i will

[Nitekruizer]

First of all, welcome to the site!
If you can, check the battery first to make sure it holds a charge and then check your grounds. If the battery is fully charged, you should have 12 volts at least as far as the starter relay. I think there's a Fuse Link near the Starter Relay in the Black/Yellow stripe wire that runs from the battery terminal of the Starter Relay into the cab. This wire is the main power wire, so, if there is a break in this wire (ie: a burned out Fusible Link) there will most likely be no power to the truck at all. This wire goes to the fuse box. Use a voltmeter to check for voltage at the fuse box. If you have no voltage at the fuse box, you can use a 12 volt test light to probe the Black/Yellow stipe wire right after the Fusible Link. If you have voltage there then there is a break in the wire between there and the fuse box.
It won't be the starter cable touching your headers. A short there would only occur while you are cranking the engine (key in Start position). In other words, everything would work until you try cranking the engine.
I hope this helps.

[Blue1971FordTruck]

i will try all of those this afternoon there is a wire that comes off the solenoid and it is spliced to a blue wire and that splice is not very well should i try soldering could that have anything to do with it




THANK YOU FOR REPLYING

[Nitekruizer]

Yeah, it would be a good idea to fix any bad splices that you find. It could be part of the problem if it was used to replace the fuse link at some time. Is it connected to the large battery terminal of the starter relay (solenoid)?
If there's a thick Black wire connected to the battery terminal of the starter relay (solenoid), this is the Fuse Link. It bundles into the wiring harness where it becomes the Black/Yellow stripe wire. There should be a 4-pin connector in the harness, located in the general area of the battery and alternator, that you could unplug to check the Black/Yellow stripe wire for voltage.

[Blue1971FordTruck]

i did get it to start yesterday with a battery from a running car and i came back the next day and it had no juice from the battery.. hooked it up to the battery charger and she fired right up




alternator???/???

[Nitekruizer]

With the fully charged battery in the truck and without trying to start the engine do your headlights, wipers, radio and other Accessories work?
It sounds like something is draining the battery while your truck sits. Check out this thread if you haven't already.
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =8&t=73406
Next, with the battery fully charged, turn off all lights and electrical accessories in the truck, make sure the ignition is "Off" and close the doors. Disconnect the positive cable from the battery, then connect a 12 volt test light between the positive (+) cable and positive (+) battery post. The light should not light up. If it does light up something is draining power while the truck sits overnight.

[Blue1971FordTruck]

all of the accessories work except interior lights (dash and dome overhead) and should i n=invest in a battery shut off valve ?????