Need Electrical help!!!

[npca-jahdavebob]

I have 1966 Patrol. I was attempting to get horn to function, and I touched the positive side of battery to steering column. It sparked, and then nothing would work. No fuses are blown. When I turn the ignition, none of the gauges move. If I put one lead of voltmeter to positive side of battery then touch the other lead to anywhere on the vehicle, I get 12 volts, but if I move the positive lead to the fuses and touch to where it should read 12V, and negative lead to ground, I am getting -000 on the meter. Checked horn and starter relay, both good. My patrol is negative ground and has an alternator. Please help if you can. I have spent about 30 hours trying to solve problem.Thanks,David

[npca-rickg]

David,   I have a 69 patrol and had similar problems after nine years of peaceful rest in the barn.  The positive cable from the battery goes to the starter solenoid.  From that point, there is a heavy wire (12 ga. maybe), white with a red tracer that feeds all power for everything but the starter motor itself, to the fuse block.  You can follow that wire about 18 inches to the top of the fuse block.  If you have 12V at the starter solenoid (end of positive battery cable), but no voltage at the fuse block - that wire is probably open or may have a bad connection that arced when the short took place.  Check for voltage in both places.  If you have no voltage at the starter solenoind, check continuity of your battery cable.  If you have 12V at the solenoid, but not at the fuse block, put a temporary jumper across the suspect bad feed wire and see if your instruments are back.  Don't try to start it with a light gage wire replacing the battery cable, or the 12ga feed wire!   Hope this helps,   Rick G