Hi Guys,
Thanks for the help so far but the Power Wagon will still not start. The weather was a bit better and I can answer some of your questions. Lugnuts asked if it will crank if I jump the solenoid and yes it will. I took the thing Nemesis SS correctly identified as a Ballast resistor and it has been replaced. Power Ram thought the solenoid was on the starter rather than the firewall, I don't have a FSM but do have a parts manual and I don't see any solenoid in the blow up of the starter. This may (I'm guessing here) be because this PW has been converted from 6V to a 12V system. I was able to connect the power cable and tested for continuity and got a chime from power to every contact on the back of the key switch. I got a chime at every contact no matter what position (off-on-start) the key was in. I don't know what that tells me though. I have this multitester and don't know how to fully use it or what all the readings mean. I'm still in unfamiliar territory and hope someone here can help me get to the next level.

 

Well to get that wood hauled up we better get it runnin' at least 'till the weather breaks.
I'm assuming it has a points type distributor, get a couple alligator clips and run a wire from the batt + to the coil +, jump across the solenoid to crank it and she should fire up. Bein' sure it ain't in gear of course lol.

Without knowing exactly how the wiring's been run on the conversion,[I thought 6v pos. ground went away in '56 ?] it's hard to arm chair diagnose. You need a $5 test light to check the ign. switch. Should be a hot wire to it, and one or more hot in the run position. Should be one more hot in the start position only. = One for the engine,possibly one for accessories,[depending on the switch and how the truck is wired] and the one to the starter relay.

 

Thanks Lugnuts. I have a test light and will look at the ignition switch tomorrow and post what I find out and probably more questions. I don't know about when the conversion was done or really if it was done. This is what the PO told me when I bought the truck. I'd like to get it working properly again but you're right I do need to get that tree out of the woods so getting it running will be a real boost. It was running fine just 2 weeks ago. I went in to start it and it turned over fine once but when I turned the key the second time - nothing . . . . and nothing since. The last time this happened it was the solenoid, I think that was in 94. It's been a very reliable and useful vehicle but isn't street legal. I have a mechanic that makes house calls but he is quite expensive and I'm one of the people that has had to change my lifestyle because of this recession. I hope you or someone willing to teach me will be available tomorrow. Thank you very much!