I have an 85 that I bought for a 16 year old. Didn't pay much.

I'm having an electrical problem where no power goes from the battery to the rest of the car. The car was working fine. I can't find anything obvious. Where do I start.

What book is the best -- I've got a chilton's

Is everything dead? Head lights, dome light, radio etc... or just your ignition system? Also, have you checked the battery and cables for corrosion.

85 would be hei and carb. They use the big post on the starter (where the battery cable goes) for power distribution. There will be a number of 12 guage red wires connected there depending on the options on the car. Most of them arew fusible links. These often get "messy" with years. Check em out. The only other wire on the starter is the "crank" wire, usually purple, to the inside small stud.