New Starter Now No Power

[Snosh]

Hi, this is my first post and I am in need of serious help.

I have a '78 Chevy Scottsdale K10 4x4 with a 350.

Truck recently died on me while driving, I put a new fuel pump on it. Still won’t start, bowls in the carb are dry so my dad was filling them with gas thinking it could be vapor locked. The last time he did it (did it at least 6-8 times total) the carb caught fire but we got it put out. Anyway the truck seemed fine but when we went to check and make sure it would still at least turn over the starter solenoid case broke (starter still turned). We put a new starter on it yesterday but had absolutely no power inside the cab or to the ignition. Truck wouldn’t turn over, no buzzing, no radio, lights, etc. We tested the battery and the starter, both were fine.
What could the problem be? Possibly a fusible link? But the old starter still had power and so did the cab before we took it off, and we put the new starter on the exact same way.

Anyone have any ideas? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[hatzie]

You have two problems that may or may not be related.
Chris hosted my scans of the 73-91 GM Light Truck service manuals, including Wiring, Unit Repair, and Service here.  http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,25639
Download a copy of the 1978 wiring manual.  It'll show the starter hookup detail including the fusible links with the wire colors and wire gauges in AWG.  Each wire will have an inline label in the diagrams.  The main feed off the starter after the fusible link is labeled "10 RED-2J (SXL)" it translates to 10 AWG RED GM Circuit #2J Series S Crosslink Polyethylene jacketed wire rather than PVC jacket used where (SXL) is not called out...  The GM circuit # assures you won't loose the wire when you trace it through from end to end.

--No power at all in the cab. 
Check that the fusible link is hooked up to the BATT terminal on the starter.  Then check for volts at the bulkhead junction stud.  If you are hooked up at the starter and have no volts at the junction stud then you have smoked the fusible link or you have a damaged power feed wire.

--No start
Vapor lock is only on a hot motor.  If she has cooled down then she should start assuming a good fuel pump.  If you have a return line on the fuel pump vapor lock is extremely unlikely.
Did you lock the pump rod when you replaced the fuel pump?  Did you remove the locking bolt and re-install the plug bolt?
You filled the float chamber 6 times through the bowel vent and she didn't kick off and run till the chamber ran dry every time?  Check the ignition system.  Visible spark with a spark tester?  Cap and Rotor OK?  Coil tests out OK? Pink wire has volts with the ignition switched on?
If she ran then you have probably mis-aligned the fuel pump rod with the plunger or you have a bad new pump.