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Sounds like he cooked the wiring harness , look at the back of the ammeter and at the wires going to it and thru the bulkhead .

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check those fusable links at the big triangle rubber connector were all 4 wires come to 1 wire to the batt

look them over real good,they can be burnt into but not all the way thru the coating

feel them and see if they feel swollin and soft

look for small splits in the coating

use a test light and see if the + side of coil gets hot with key on

check to see if the BR burnt and broke

may need a new cluster for the dash,PM me I have one he can have if you want it

if the coil gets power and no spark,ecu could be fried or the pick up in the dist

this is were I remove the elect dist and drop a points dist in

remove the - wire from coil and hook up the black wire from the points

then unplug the ecu and see if it gets fire and starts

I have fixed many 85 truck by swapping the dist out to points and never have another problem out of it

I have cut the triangle rubber splice out and wire nut the wires back together also to shortin the fuseable link wires

band aid but works in a pinch

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that would be true

forgot the worked on alt part, and you said he was not to good at that sort of stuff and you help him a lot

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First stop talking about more changes to this vehicle! I would look very close at the brushes you said that he fixed. I had a friend do the same thing and the next thing you know the trucks wireing was smokeing like you explained . The reason was that he lost the inslating washer that keeps the brush ftom contacting the case of the altinator . This is where I would look very close if the insulating washer is missing do not turn the key on or you may burn all fuseable links you ever relace until you fix the uninsulated brush contacting the case of the alt .

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Lots of good info. This is what I needed. Thanks very much to all I have a lot on my plate tomorrow so I may not be able to get back over to help him for a day or 2. I think he is convinced he needs to leave it alone. Will check the coil. And look at the brushes. Also good to know about the dash circuit board. I am more confident now I can get him going again! Thanks again.

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that is another good option

Amen to that

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If its a tilt its down there on the base of the column but if its a standard non-tilt then its inside the column, hence the wire suggestion. In '88 they went to a rod style but his '85 should have the switch in the column if its a non-tilt.

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Could not find a switch of the column shaft & the truck is a non-tilt so it must be un in the column. We where going to haul it to a shop today, but he got tied up. Looks like thats where its headed. I appreciate everyones help & input.