Ok I am still new to the world of automachanics and such but am learning fast.. Basically I went to start my 68 today and she turned over fine.. started rough (becuase it was cold) and died.. No biggie..turned the ignition again and she started to crank back up.. then all of a sudden all at once it died along with my gauge lights.. tried to turn the ignition this time and nothing... not even a click... complete silence. Then I noticed a smell of electricity.. like when something burns or something.. I couldn't find anything wrong.. I used a circuit tester on the fuse box and everythng seems fine.. Could it be my ignistion relay? If so how do I check it? Please help...

If its been sitting,start simple . I'll bet the battery cables and post are corroded...happens even when they dont sit up but is very common when they do. If thats not it be systematic because thats how electrical systems work, I.E., Is the battery okay,do you have power to the switch,do you have power at the selanoid,thats gonna answer alot but my moneys on the battery corroded

The burning smell is a real bad thing untill you have a plan on tracking it down Pull you battterie cables off while it is sitting ( just in case)
Now give more detail on the starting again , did you have to crank more than normal . have you had any other electric work done recent , what was the last thing done to the car, any new or recent sterio ect. Probaly a loose conection at the batt. or a bad starter but your post is light on info.

I checked the wiring like you said and narrowed it down a bit.. there is no power going to the starter selanoid when I checked it. I followed the wired into the firewall and got lost on the other side (cockpit) in the mess of wiring.. does this narrow it down at all? Is there anything you could suggest to me from here?

Nothing has been done.. I ran it last weekend and it was fine.. No hard starting that was not normal. Power should be going to the selanoid when the ignition is on "run" correct? I have no power when I checked it tonight.. The wiring is really crappy on this thing so I am trying to trace the selanoid wire through the firewall.. but I am lost.. If there is no power going through the selanoid wire where should I look next?

Power does NOT go to the purple wire on the solenoid with the key in run, only with it in start.

Check, as in REMOVE, clean the terminals and reinstall both ends of both battery cables.

Sniff around and try to figure out where the burning smell came from. Was it inside the car or under the hood? The starter maybe?

Thanks for the tips.. I think we got it narrowed down to the starter selanoid.. Thanks for the patience too.. You guys rock!!

Ok I checked everything and the power is all good.. I narrowed it down to the wire going to the selanoid from the firewall.. the purple one.. that thing is dead even when the ignition is on "start"... where the purple wire come from or more specific.. what should I check for next?

Neutral safety switch, if automatic trans equipped.

Start voltage leaves ign sw as a Purple wire to n/safety. Leaves n/safety as a purple wire to solenoid. Otherwise, if manual trans, purple wire continous to solenoid.

Now, if all original equipment & alternator, the following is true: power from battery via red pigtail on positive post to junction block next to battery to horn relay (under washer bottle, driver side), to red wire to drvr side firewall connector, also another red wire to alternator. Through firewall to fuse block plus "Y'd" (GM used a crimp) under dash, location is between firewall and ign switch. The Y splits to lights and to ign switch. Return to battery is ground.

Next attempt to start, turn lights on to see if they glow. If starter engages, then lights will dim some and starter will crank, if battery and its connections are in good repair.

I think there might be one more thing you can check - what is the wire going to your distributor? I remember the earlier cars relying on a special wire to provide resistance, and not flood the distributor with current. If you have it connected with a regular 10-12g wire, that might very well overload it and cause it to burn.