Have a 1961 that was working fine the last few weeks, then the other day, didn't want to start anymore.

It won't turn over at all.

Replaced the battery, same thing.

Occasionally, it will click a few times when I try to start it, then nothing.

The dome light goes out too, kind of like when the car doesn't start, the whole thing loses power completely.

I'm not familiar with the wiring for this car yet, but I'm wondering what might cause the whole thing to lose power like that when it fails... Yesterday, power would eventually come back. However, in the last 24 hours, it hasn't returned at all since the last failure...

Any ideas where to begin?

 

Additional troubleshooting has me thinking that the problem is between the battery and it's first point of contact with the car on the positive terminal.

If I work and manipulate that wire, power comes back to the car. But, as soon as I try to turn it over, I get the same power loss.

I can't tell how or what that wire is connected to on the other end.

Anyone familiar with what is at the other end of that wire?