Started, Died, Smoke & Fire!

Bought the '68 a few weeks ago and have driven it around the neighborhood and to Home Depot 2-3 times per week, 230 Tornador motor. Started it last week, pulled out of the garage, she died, and smoke began to rise up from the floor around the gear shift, :o then from the battery box! :eek: After removing the battery box cover, the postive cable coming from the starter/starter switch had melted from the post. Here are my guesses; :idea: starter switch stuck, short in the starter, bare wire ground on the positive battery cable. My first thought is to replace the starter switch and battery cables, perhaps the battery. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
J.D.

I'd say you had a dead short yo ground on the positive battery cable. If the starter switch had stuck it most likely would have cranked until the battery died, or just smoked the starter.

The positive cable is routed through a lot of clips under the cab and if any of them are gone or rusted off, the may have allowed the cable to chafe and rub through causing the short.

Thanks, I'll replace the cable first. Probably the least expensive fix.

Hey, do you think I'll need to replace the battery?

Probably not. Once you get a new cable on there or find the short, put a volt meter on both batteries. With them not connected that is. Each should be in the 11.8-12.5 range just sitting there. Hook them together and you should have 24.5 or so.

Running, 28.8 is what the alternator should keep the charge at.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JDS

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
J.D.

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Yeah, send it to me. I'll take care of it for you.;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JDS

Hey, do you think I'll need to replace the battery?

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Once they are disconnected, as Tim suggested, check the voltage. Also check the battery terminals carefully to be sure they didn't melt and break loose from the battery. You may need to charge one or both after a short like that. I'd also check the water level as well.

I did notice that the battery terminal did not melt and I'll check the voltage.

Thanks.