So I bought this firebird a few weeks ago...needs a lot of new stuff but it runs good I was told...

So ive been wondering why the car didnt have any power for about a week now until I finally checked the starter!

Up on ramps now I look at the started and i put a test light to see if its getting power it sparks when i touch it and the fan and lgihts turns on (i had them set on in the cab) and im like holy **** thats cool. The bolt is loose and all rusted so i decide to take it off and sand all the surfaces, as im taking it off something falls...dunno what, maybe some old thread lock or something
I sand the connectors and the bolt and thread post from the starter for a lil then put them back on, more sparks and the fan comes back on, then I decide its a good idea to disconnect the - terminal at the battery so I did that...
I put the
-----------------0 red wire with the loop thingy
-----------------
-----------------0 Another red wire connected to a smaller red wire (like an appliance cord)
back on the started post and begin tightening the nut back on...i get it nice and tight.

Then I reconnect the - terminal at the battery again and nothing happens, no matter how much I wiggle the connections at the starter

NOTE: The ac was set on when it first sparked and the starter post did turn red hot in the spot it was touching the o ring for about 1 second but it was still going when I disconnected the battery

Does this sound like one of the fusible links on the starter + cables? How do I check if there ok? (there the little black circular things in the cables right?)

Please help, I was so excited to have got it sort of working for a second

Thanks!