Sounds like you've got an internally broken or loose wire behind the switch...

 

What shape is the rubber electrical plug on the back? Soft and clean, or rotten, cracking, or falling apart?

 

It is soft and clean. I have wiggled and moved all the wires to see if anything changed. It has me stumped. I have zero power to anything. I do have power on one of the terminals inside of the switch plug but that is it.

 

I'd have to look at a wiring diagram to be sure, but the fact that you're losing even things like your lights, makes me wonder. I had a truck once do the same thing. Everything was fine until you went to crank it. Turned out to be a loose battery ground cable. Everything worked until the stater tried to draw it's large amount or current. I know it might sound odd, but maybe worth a look to check your battery and cable connections.

 

I installed a new ignition switch and all was good or seemed good. 1/2hr later I go to move the car and nothing. No power at all, no lights, horn, nothing.

Lights, horn, etc do not go thru the ignition switch. Your problems are elsewhere. Work you way thru the electrical system starting at the battery.

Paul

 

Update:
I've checked and I have power at the solenoid, the voltage regulator, the ignition switch but nothing works? Is there a main link to all of the electrical system?

 

What shape is the rubber electrical plug on the back? Soft and clean, or rotten, cracking, or falling apart?

 

It is soft and clean sir.

 

I did word it a little goofy in my earlier post, but your car is doing exactly what our truck did. Everything worked until you went to crank it, then the whole thing was compleley dead, like you had just taken the battery out. I'd really be willing to bet that you have a loose/dirty/bad cable (maybe a short in the battery, but probably not) We spent about a week chasing the ignition system (even though we were confused why the lights went out too) until we found it.

But who knows though

 

Don't forget a good ground

 

check the plug-in's at the firewall. The ones that go thru from the outside to the inside.

 

Co-workers Nissan truck did the same thing. We tapped the battery terminal with a hammer and it cranked up. At first I thought it was just a dirty terminal, but he cleaned it and two days later, the same thing. I told him to go get a new battery, since apparently there was an internal open between the + post and the plates somehow. New battery and the problem went away.

 

UPDATE:
All is well now! Finally found the problem after over thinking it! LOL. Ground cable where it meets the block was apparently not making good contact. I removed it and used a wire brush on the cable, stud and block. Reassembled and all is good. The cable looks new and there is no visible crud anywhere on my car but I guess it had built up a resistance some how. Thank you guys for the input. I have to learn to stop over thinking issues on these old cars!