The 283 Rebuild Begins

[bubba327]

http://www.americanstreetmasters.com/Wiring_101_16.jpg
this is a helpful site .. the colors stay consistent through the years. Do you have the hazard 4-way flasher?
Power starts at the fuse ,then to signal flasher then goes to the brake switch on the orange wire and leaves the brake switch on the white wire which goes to the connector and up the column to the turn signal switch. the 4 signal lights (front/rear turn /brake) all leave the turn signal switch on 4 different colored wires.
your flasher only flashes when it has a load to pass power to. It sounds to me like your turn signal switch or column wiring has been damaged. Or mis-connected
good luck-- Bubba