55 Chev 283 W/12 Volt - Electrical issue - dead

I was driving on the freeway, 65 mph and boom, just like that it died, dead, no spark nothing (btw I tried a search) I checked Battery, ground/positive cables, wires to the alternator (internal regulator) fuses, everything seems to check out, when I turn on the key it does nothing,no clicking, nothing, no headlights, it is dead!...a short somewhere? the wiring is kind of a rats nest under the dash?
any ideas .... Thanks ​

 

i would check your fuse(s) if you have any, then ign. switch.

 

All the power goes from the battery to the large terminal on the starter. Another wire (about 10 Ga.) from that same starter post goes to the ignition switch (maybe through the headlight switch). That feeds the rest of the car.

My guess is the feed wire from the starter broke. If anything under the dash would have 'shorted' you would have had smoke. Those cars did not have a master fuse but may have a fusable link (which is a fat part of the feed wire), usually red, right at the starter.

 

What are you using to test for current?

 

Definitely sounds like you lost your main electrical feed. Do you have a volt meter (good investement if you don't). Check from source (battery) to starter to ignition switch. Also check to be sure ground wire is still good. Do the lights work? Electrical is all about segregating what is good and what is bad. I just put a new engine and transmission in my '55' and just started tearing dash wire out because it was in such poor condition. I'm in Lancaster area if that is close to you I would be happy to help you find the problem. Good luck, Brian

 

This might be a shot in the dark. A few months ago I was coming home, turned in to the neighbor hood and saw a 56' Chevy on the side of the road with the hood up. I've been there, same spot and not a single neighbor stopped to assist me. My turn to help. I stopped, admired the car; I've seen it driving through in the past. I asked the driver what the problem was, same thing as the OP, it just stopped running right here. We checked all the obvious things. I asked a few question and he said he had just installed a new ignition switch. I asked if I could take a look under the dash and he said sure. Not much room in there, but I was able to get to the switch. I pushed on the back and he said, "hey the lights came on", so pushed a little more hoping to seat the switch back; it never really moved that I could tell. I got out and he jumped in a started the car up. We talked for a minute or two and went our separate ways. I still see that 56' running around from time to time.

Maybe, just maybe if you've checked everything else it could be just the switch no matter if it's the old one or a new one.

<O</OHope this helps<O</O

 

I just had problem the other day won,t start.
If you have battery connection with 2 bolts that pinch the wire,best to clean and tighten.Clean both anyway.

 

ign switch is bad

 

Thanks.... fixed... wire fell off.