Truck Wont Start!?!

[2wheeler]

   Working on a 2wd '81 Chevy custom deluxe, 350, th350.  Whatever the issue is, it was giving me problems for a few days before dieing.  I would have to drop the shifter into reverse and back to park once and then it would start.  Now nothing works!  I pulled the starter out and tested it, no problems.  I put the starter back in and bought a new neutral safety switch but I guess I bought one for a newer truck because it clips on the column and mine is screwed on.  Also, my old NSS has 4 prongs (2 plugs) and the new one has five prongs (3 plugs?)  I plugged it in anyways and still no go. I bypassed both plugs with a piece of wire and still no go.  I tried jumping the starter and it doesn't even spark.  I have checked all the wires to see if they're broken or melted, and I've checked grounds and ground straps, no sign of anything wrong.  I just put a good $1000 into the truck so this is pissing me off.  I recently installed a shiftkit, but I don't see how it would have something to do with the tranny?  I'm down to think it's something in to the column and the easiest route would be to just replace the whole thing?? 
     Any help would be greatly appreciated.  My truck is sitting on the road by a friend's house and I don't want to pay the tow truck to bring it home.  Thanks in advance. 

[dunedigger]

I assume everything else electrical is working?  If it was acting up with the shifter you may be on the right track as it will only start in neutral or park.  You may want to bump the key in all gears to see if it will start to turn over but don't attempt to start it in gear if it does.  Sometimes if the shift linkage is out of adjustment enough you can't get it fully in park, will it start in neutral?  If the shifting was a coincidence, sometimes the fusible links connected to the starter burn up, but how much electrical is working in the truck?

[2wheeler]

I didn't think to check the fusable links. The rest of the wires look good, and everything else works inside and outside the truck. I've tried starting it in every gear, and I've gotten under it and moved the transmission linkage by hand, nothing.  I forgot to mention that of the two plugs on the NSS (green/blue & a bigger purple/yellow) the blue wire is the only wire that has power when the key is on? I assume the yellow or purple should also?  Is there something inside the column around the shifter that would have an effect on anything here?  When I turn the key to the "start" position the cd player turns off like it should to direct power to the starter but nothing....

[Lt.Del]

You should get a voltmeter and check power (probe in the wire insulation) before the plastic fusible link, and after and see if any difference. 

Also, turn key to on and try to override the ignition switch with a jumper from positive solenoid wire to ignition wire and see if it bumps.

OR, another thing that comes to mind is transmission pump is blown.   Take a ratchet w/ a 5/8" socket and try to turn the crank w/ trans in neutral.  I bet it wont turn.

[2wheeler]

So after work today I checked the fusable links and turned the crank with the tranny in neutral and no problems.  I think it has something to do with the fact that there's no power even at the neutral safety switch so following the wire back it leads to the column?  The only thing I can think of in there that may effect the starter is the ignition switch itself? Do I buy a new switch or change the column? Thanks for the help

[ccz145a]

trace the switch connections and make sure there is power where it needs to be, first.

[DnStClr]

Is it possible that your ignition switch (located on the column), has loosend up and needs to be readjusted?

[VileZambonie]

Is the battery dead?  lol

Take a test light to the S terminal on the starter and have an assistant crank the engine. Let us know if it lights up.

[2wheeler]

     The battery is good, it shows almost 12 volts.  EVERYTHING works except the starter.  The battery cable has power at the starter but the little wire from the ignition does not.  If it did that would mean the starter is pouched but I've already pulled it and tested it and put it back in.  There is also no power at the neutral safety switch, I've tested that while turning the key.  I've tried jumping it so many different ways, even by giving it power from another wire and still nothing.  When I turn the key to "run" all the gauges and cd player work properly, but when I turn it all the way to "start" it all shuts off like it should except the starter does nothing, not even a click.  I think I am stuck on thinking it's in the column...  DnStClr has a valuable solution worth trying but how do I do that?  Buy a new ignition switch?  Change the whole thing?  It sucks that it's dark when I get off work so I have a few more days 'till the weekend before I tackle it.  All opinions welcome, I really want to get this thing troubleshot by the weekend so I can have my truck again    Thanks to the people that have posted, I've been trying everything you say!

[VileZambonie]

Check the ignition switch and the mechanical mechanism (rack assembly and rod) that moves the switch also.

[2wheeler]

I replaced the whole column with a newer column and she's good to go    Thanks to everybody for their time and expertise