I have a 1982 z28 camaro automatic with a 350 carbureted engine. I just put on a new exhaust a couple years ago and lost interest after that. I picked it back up about a week ago and i cant get the starter to activate. The battery, alternator, and starter are all fine and have been tested. The wire that gives the starter power at the small bolt to the right does not have power when the negative terminal is hooked up to the battery but does have power when the negative is off the battery. Does anyone have any idea what is going on?

 

You're testing it wrong. Why would you check for voltage with the negative cable disconnected?

Having said that, which small wire are you talking about? Wire color? Post a picture? Are you sure you've got all of the wires connected at the starter? It is amazing common to forget to connect all the wires at the starter.

 

I ended up figuring it out. Somehow the pirple ignition wire under yhe driverside dash came apart and all we did was reconnect it. I wa way back by the firewall which is why i didnt catch it in the first place. Thanks for the tips tho