Yeah, if everything just goes away when you try and start, that's a bad connection somewhere. It isn't necessarily a ground issue, could be a positive side issue as well. Recheck ALL battery connections, and also down at the starter.

 

If the starter is activating you NSS side is good i would think. The starter bolted up nice and square? cables tight. I cant remember the block ground connections on these, if its just the one on the cylinder head or if there is a block ground also.

A double check I always try first is a jumper cable between the motor (usually the accessory bracket or aluminum for better continuity) and battery -. Next if no results the jumper cable from B+ to starter +.

If you have a DVOM you could do a voltage drop test on the cables also while cranking

 

I didn't disconnect the starter just unbolted and left it laying on the diff. Will verify all connections at it though.

 

starter went in nicely, no alignment or bolting issues. Gonna let the battery charge overnight, check all connections and try again tomorrow. Need the truck for a 12 hour drive this weekend so hopefully can get this lined out

 

Don't let it charge overnight if you are charging at more than 2 amps or so......

 

Alright boys I checked all the connections and the were 100% good. Ended up having a bad cell in the battery. Voltage was there but no amps so got a new battery and threw the driveshaft in. It fired right up and boy does this feel like a brand new truck. I went ahead and did the headers and a dual exhaust too. Thank you everyone who gave input on this thread it's helped answer alot of questions and got me through my first swap of any kind. Hoping to get many years out of what has been my dream truck for 24 years.

 

Good deal, hope it all works great for you.