C60 wiring harness in a K20?

[1968_K20_4x4]

So, today I literally tried to "fire up" my truck. I stopped at the gas station and when I went to start the truck after, it cranked but didn't want to start. I turned the key off, waited for a few seconds and tried again. This time absolutely nothing happened. I tried some troubleshooting which included removing the ignition from the dash for inspection. I couldnt see anything wrong, so I decided to try and start the truck with a screwdriver at the starter motor just to get it home. I put the key to ON and left it there. But once I got out of the truck to go jump start it, I saw smoke coming out from under the dash. I turned the key off and pulled the battery cable to stop the fire. My red ignition wire was burning at the fuse box, as well as behind the ignition switch. See photo attatched ( Sorry that it's not strait but you get the idea)

After calling a tow truck to haul the truck home I went out and inspected and it looks like I fried my wiring harness Luckily that seems to be all the damage that happened. I've had this truck for about 2 years and have never had any issues with the electrical system before

So now I have some questions. First off... what went wrong? Bad ignition switch? When I had the ignition removed from the dash was it no longer properly grounded when I tried to start it?? Or???

Also, my buddy has a 1971 C60 dump truck that I can take parts from. Does anyone know if I could pull the wiring harness out of his C60 and install it in my truck? My truck is a 1968 Chevy K20.

Apparently there is supposed to be a fuse wire coming off the battery that is supposed to prevent this from happening. I don't know if I don't have that or it didn't function properly or what.

I have a little electrical knowledge but certainly not very advanced.

Thanks

[Barnfind46]

50 year old wiring?

[projectking]

The wire that melted isn’t fused.....where does it go to?

['68OrangeSunshine]

There should be a Fusable Link wire spliced into a 12- or 14 ga. wire coming from the Positive Terminal and going to the junction terminal on the Passenger side fender, where it connects to the front engine harness coming from over the radiator wall. The fusable Link there is supposed to melt and shut down power in the event of an overload or short.
If it's open, the truck should not start.

[1968_K20_4x4]

Originally Posted by projectking

The wire that melted isn’t fused.....where does it go to?

So the red wire that melted comes off the battery and runs to the fuse box. It then runs to my ignition switch. From there is a pink wire which was marked as ignition so I belive it runs to the starter motor. I'll attach a couple of pics

[1968_K20_4x4]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

There should be a Fusable Link wire spliced into a 12- or 14 ga. wire coming from the Positive Terminal and going to the junction terminal on the Passenger side fender, where it connects to the front engine harness coming from over the radiator wall. The fusable Link there is supposed to melt and shut down power in the event of an overload or short.
If it's open, the truck should not start.

Can I get this fuseable link at any part store? Do you have a pic of how it's supposed to look when properly connected? Thanks

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by 1968_K20_4x4

Can I get this fuseable link at any part store? Do you have a pic of how it's supposed to look when properly connected? Thanks

Yes, Usually in a small coil in the HELP parts section.
It;s there in the pics above. A line runs off the Positive terminal on the Battery and connects to the terminal at the fender. Only about half of that line needs to be fusable link wire. You can splice it to regular copper line for the rest.