Feel like I'm beating a dead horse here, but WTF, whats the worst thing that could happen.

Question, why would you run the ground cable to the furthest point on the block from the starter?

I looked at my 73 last night, the ground cable is like 18" long and goes directly to the block at the starter bolts.

Try this, take a jumper cable and go battery ground post to the starter housing.

Looking at the new pics I see you have a bracket under the lug, I still say you have a ground issue.

I replaced the positive cable, and the battery post clamp on the negative cable. I'll just move where the negative cable goes. I'll try the wire test hopefully today or tomorrow. 5thhorsemann, you mentioned a body ground strap? I was wondering if this is attached to the negative cable, if it attaches separately, and where on the body do you connect it? Thanks!

I have one from batt neg to the fire wal and a second braided strap from the block to the frame rail, there is no nasty ground wire to the valve cover.

Got the starter working, and the car is running again! Thanks everyone for your help! 5thhorsemann, I'll try doing that as that seems much more correct than what the previous owner decided to do! Thanks

^^ Yeah, couldn't hurt to ground the engine where it's supposed to be grounded!