66 C10 truck wont start

[66-327-2humps]

Hi, this is my first thread, wouldnt you know it would be a problem. I have a 327 in my 66 and the truck has been running pretty crappy under load for the past couple of days. In the process of eliminating some of the possibilities i had the truck running and noticed a red wire that had disconnected from the alternator. (its the wire that runs to the horn relay) i plugged the wire into the alternator while the ruck was running and heard a strange noise coming from the front of the truck. so i pulled the wire back out and pushed it off to the side. i went to go turn off the truck but before i could the wire had moved back to the alternator case and grounded. the truck died and i am getting no power. i tried to jump the truck and nothing. any ideas? all of the fuses in the fuse box are good.

[66-327-2humps]

well the strange noise was the voltage regulator, explains why my voltage while running has been around 15. opened the case up and they regulator is toast

[argonaut]

Was it the big 10 or 12AWG wire that mounts to the post? If so this is the main power wire coming off the alternator and connecting to the battery and the fuse panel.
If it was disconnected, then your battery has been draining while the truck is running.
If this grounded out then you could have melted some of the wiring that goes down to the horn relay junction mount, and over through the core support to the battery.

So I would check to see if a) your battery is dead and b) if the wiring is okay.