electrical short need help

[davidlclassic]

   I have a 71 charger se with 318 automatic. I drove home last week and had no trouble, got in the charger next morning and tried to start it, nothing when I tried to start again, smoke filled the car. Opened the hood and pulled the battery cable. Since this tragic accident I have located two wires that have burned up. One is from the starter relay to the fire wall and the other is a ground that is just under the steering collum. I have dash lights, head lights, map light, and the defroster works. You can short out the relay and the starter will ingage and turn, but there is no fire at the plugs. Do I have something that is not grounded? Is it the switch in the steering collum? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have a car show at our church on the 19th and would love to have the car there. Everyone else is a chevy or ford guy and would love for them to see what a mopar is.

[Nacho-RT74]

pics will be great. If the wire I think you got burnt is the fuse link you shouldn't get power ANYWHERE, but at starter motor and solenoid.

[nascarxx29]

The wire of the 2 that has the least plastic coating on it .Is usually that one that got the hottest.And the culprit to investigate

[nascarxx29]

http://www.mymopar.com/index.php?pid=24

I agree the wire going from stater relay to bulkhead.Is the + power feed in .But the link didnt pop.Any chance the fusible link was repaced with a heavier wire.And you said a black ground wire also melted.Is this black wire a chassis ground on the steering column mount was it a light gauge wire or a heavy gauge wire.Because there is a heavier black wire around steering column area.And it might be for the ignition switch .And why I think that is as you said you were turning key and trying to crank over.And I've seen alot of wiring damage where harness and ignition switch connects.
But if you get some pictures of the damaged area and the wires involved .It will help us fiqure out what happen and .Get it solved

[davidlclassic]

Sorry I've took so long to reply, I've been out of town. Thanks everyone, I will try to get some pictures of the damage, I've bought a switch with the wiring for the steering colum. I'll try that first.