Help with old Chevy truck...weird experience

[2wrench]

Son goes out to start the old '69 Chevy pickup.

Weird whining sound (I didn't hear, just described) and
smoke under hood coming from battery posts.

Cleaned neg post. Hot still attached. Placed neg on post
and melted a groove in the post where it touched.

Weird.

Anybody suggest where to start or what's going on?
Ran yesterday just fine.

 

[SilentUnicorn]

something in the is shorting out to ground. I would start with the starter circuit, and do a thorough visual inspection of all wiring. Look for chafing or bare wires.

mark

 

[Tinster]

Dennis,

I'd start with checking the heaviest gage wires first.
From what you describe, it sounds like a major wire short circuit.

d

 

[Dave Richards]

something in the is shorting out to ground. I would start with the starter circuit, and do a thorough visual inspection of all wiring. Look for chafing or bare wires.

mark

 

[AweMan]

Isolate the starter By dissconnecting ALL of the wires from it, then try to reconnect your battery see if you still get the arcing condition. If not, then you know the problem is either in the starter itself or the solonoid.
If it is still arcing then you have short to ground in the +
cable.
Note: Be sure not to let the loose ends of the disconnected wires touch ground.

 

[2wrench]

A quick update. It was the starter. Fixed.
Thanks to all.