Won't start after Intake Manifold Gasket replacement

[Jspafford]

Hey all...

Bought the truck cheap because it had the IMG leak. Ran fine 2 nights ago...other than the leak.

I pulled it all apart. The gasket was gone on the rear passenger side. No antifreeze in the oil that I can tell.

So I put it all back together. Fired it up... Well turned the key anyway. Turns over real slow and the tach jumps around. Tried again and got clicking.

Here is my issue. The battery worked fine two nights ago.

I had a question on the wiring. When I hooked everything back up I had a red wire right from the battery cable that I assumed went to the back of the alternator. There was also a second set of two wires I didn't know where they went. They come from a wire loom on the LH side of the back of the motor. One is 12g one is 16ga and the terminate into a single ring terminal. They both say 'fusible link' so I hooked it right to the back of the alternator where the positive battery lead is.

I think this might be my issue.

HELP!

1996 GMC Jimmy SLE Auto/4WD/4.3L

Thanks!

 

[Jspafford]

Bad battery, if anyone wanted to know.

 

[Will]

Dirty battery cables or some other connection problem and when you replaced the battery, you inadvertently improved the connection.

It's always something you did when it doesn't work after you put it back together.

 

[Jspafford]

Dirty battery cables or some other connection problem and when you replaced the battery, you inadvertently improved the connection.

It's always something you did when it doesn't work after you put it back together.

I hooked up positive battery cables to a ground.. Think that may have been the problem for the old battery. Although, it never did spark or anything... Weird.

It runs now, the 4WD doesn't engage and the steering is extremely loose.

The t-case locks in, but something is not engaging the axle.... I feel so lost working on a truck I know nothing about!!!