49 Chevy panel truck 6 volt system, I have a bad dead electrical short somewhere. History; completely replaced electrical wire harness, new battery, new fuses, starter and generator appear to be ok. Electrical system worked ok, engine although was always slow to crank over.
Vehicle went out for a paint job, and came back and would not start nor would the battery stay charged. While out being painted they left the key in the on position on more than one occasion, which could have burnt the points, but the points appear ok. I determined there was a dead short when I pulled the ground wire from the battery, recharged it and went to put the ground (negative) cable to the battery back on there was a real big spark indicating that there is a large drain(short) somewhere in the system.
Pulled the generator, regulator, and all five fuses and still there is a short. Took off the # 1 wire from the starter terminal to the amp meter and the short was then gone. I checked the harness behind the dash and there did not appear to be any disconnected or crossed wires, nothing touching the wires to the amp meter, and with the fuses to all the circuits out that would eliminate any shorted wires I think? Could the amp meter be shorted, or is the wire to the amp meter somehow shorted out. While out being painted they tried to start it once and it ran, but later (after they painted it) they attempted to start it, with no success. They attempted to charge it, but it would stay charged. Please, any ideas what is wrong, and how to fix it? Thanks for the help
God bless,
Dave
