After swapping the old 2.8 engine for a better 2.8 engine which is almost entirely the same except not broken I'm experiencing that I have no contact at all when the key is turned in the slot and also there's absolutely no voltage to be measured on any plugs or anything inside of the car except for on the constant voltage that goes to the starter. Now it's probably a stupid problem and I hooked everything I could up but it's frustrating me to no end, it's not the battery because sparks are still flying off of it. Any suggestions as to what it could possibly be? I searched far and wide for lose plugs even under the car but couldn't find any any more. Anyone maybe have some charts or something which I could use to determine what's not the problem and what else isn't and so on until only the thing that is the problem remains? Thanks in advance, guys, and I do know it's a kinda stupid thing I'm overlooking but would really really appreciate all the help I can get with this, hearing my dear car's engine roar and being able to drive it around and show it to people is long, long overdue.

Have you checked fuses? What do you mean by sparks flying off the battery??? I sure hope you aren't touching cables or battery posts together!! If you've never had a battery explode, that's certainly a way to experience it. Have you checked the ground connections? Did you pinch any harnesses during the swap?

The battery sparks when the post is touched, that's what I mean, meaning it's not empty. But thanks for the suggestions! Checked all ground connections they're all connected. Don't think I pinched any harnesses, can't think of which one would've been pinched.

Sounds a lot like it would be the fusible links at the starter, possibly ground strap on the passenger side head to the firewall.

Thanks a lot, guys! Problem is solved, it was the wire on the starter after all.

Glad to hear you got it sorted out.

Glad you figured it out!