71 starting issue

[Zorm]

Got a 71 Camper Special that I am working on. A few months ago I swapped out the points for a pertronix system. slapped in new plug wires, and got the blaster coil. Started the ole girl up and she was purring.

FF to now, redoing the front suspension, everything is off and getting powder coated, I thought I would fire her off again just to keep the engine rotated.

Connected the batt, has a good charge, turned the key and nothing, no even a crank or sound from the starter sol. I have power, lights come on. I was able to start the truck in park and neutral before, but now, nothing in either position. Shifter lever is loose anyway on the tranny not sure if that is effecting this issue. Besides maybe that, any thoughts to look for anything else? Do these old trucks have ignition switches mounted on the column?

[DisneysPatB]

Check your NSS on the lower portion of the column just under the dash.

[Charlie67f100]

Agreed check nss move the little pink on while trying to crank should start if that's it is had the same problem on my 67

[MadJoe]

Neutral Safety Switch would be my first guess, but I've also had a bad battery terminal after disconnecting it (years ago in a 1979 Granada). Had to grab the terminal and torque it to start the car. Otherwise, everything worked fine: headlights, radio, etc., but the thing just wouldn't crank. It didn't even dim the headlights or make the clicking noise like a dying battery. Pretty crazy. Took 2 or 3 days to figure it out. That coupled with a bad starter that required being hit with a hammer about 1/2 the time to get it spinning made it so for a few weeks my car literally took 3 people to get started: One torquing the battery terminal, one hammering the starter, and one turning the key.

[Zorm]

if the NSS is the problem, is there a way to bypass it, what wires to jumper?

[Charlie67f100]

Try reaching down at the base of the column and moving the pin while cranking and see if she'll start. If she does your will know that's the is I had to play around with mine to find that sweet spot to get her to crank.