The battery in my 85 Dodge d-250 carbuerated 318 engine was out in backwards and now I have a little problem. When the battery was put in wrong the fuse link closest to the battery caught fire and I immediately pulled the battery connections off. I cleaned up the distributor and got it to run again but the battery won't charge anymore. I can drive it for a little while but it starts to sputter and I have to keep the gas on it. I have a new battery, voltage regulator, alternator, and ignition module. I have not touched the fuse link but my friend has, last I know of it the far left wire was burnt up. I need to know where to go from here. Should I replace the fuse link or the entire wiring harness? Could I have burnt out a wire further down in the doghouse? Where would you guys go from this point. And I also can't afford a new 200 dollar wiring harness so hoping for some redneck ingenuity here.

. Check all under hood and under dash fuses with a test light or multimeter.

. Read the instructions that came with the new voltage regulator on how to polarize it with a "soft spark."

. Replace the fusible link.

. Check ECM.

Thank you I will do this next weekend and see what happens. There was no instructions with the regulator though