Engine and tranny are back in (again thanks to Dr Evil and Crash914). I finished the sway bar, put everything else back together and tried to start the car. Nothing. No lights on dash, nada. Checked the battery it's got 12.45V accross the terminals. The cables are correctly hooked up at battery and starter. Ground cable is attached too. But I have no juice going anywhere. Even the radio - which the PO wired hot all the time - has no juice.

Where should I start checking?

Thanks in advance!

If you really have nothing at all you have to suspect the ground connection from the battery to the body. Put your meter on Ohms and check for continuity between the battery terminal and the engine.

Was everything working before you dropped the engine?

Thanks Steve. Everything was fine before the engine drop. I did run two ground straps due to an earlier electrical anomaly. Currently (no pun intended) I have on ly one installed. The voltage between batt and engine is same as accross the terminals. I'll try the continuity check tonight.

Make certain that the tranny ground strap is attached....

-- Rob

Check all the connections on the relay board as well.

there are 3 white wires on the harness towards the back of the engine that need to be attached too.. maybe recheck them and possibly reseat the harness in the relay board? Swap out the volt reg??

I had the same darn vexious problem. Check your relays. A buck says that is your problem.

Come on Steve, we can't drink a buck.
:PERMAGRIN: Joe

power relays at the fuse boxes.

and while your cleaning those, you might as well clean all of your relays, fuses, and connectors.

everyone here is driving a 30+ year old beast(s) and rarely does the electrical system get the maintance it needs until something goes wrong.

good luck.

Thanks for the suggestions - I will try them all after work!

I did push down on all the connections on the relay board. I will pull each, check and re-attach. Add the second ground strap. then see what happens. maybe switch a headlight relay back to the relay board as well.

Did you check the big switch on your battery ground? IIRC, you have one of those connected.

YES, check continuity form ground to your battery terminal, and the realy board plugs.

Yep - checked that cutoff switch. I removed it to see if that helped. I'll check continuity tonight.

Here is what I am seeing on the diagram:

Battery + into the rest of the car are pins 12 and 14 on the 14pin connector at the front of the board.
You should be getting main power directly from the battery to fuse 11, the ig switch, and your light switch.

The direct power routes have no fuses in them and go directly to the switches and TO fuse 11.

Are you hearing anything when you turn the key? Perhaps something is shorting the whole sytem out when you try to turn it on? This is a dangerous prospect so be carful not to over heat anything and cause a fire.

Mike, I don't recall hearing any noise when turning the ign key. I'll check voltage to the pins you describe as well as the other checks. Logging off now from work now. I'll let you know how things check out tonight (or tomorrow - domestic duties call).