Hey guys, finally got my car back together in the process of trying to get it to start, here's what i've done:

1) charged up battery - checked all grounds - all fine.
2) clutch in - car in neutral try to start, nothing... (no click, no noise, simply nothing.
3) check fuses for ignition and in engine bay, no blown fuses
4) short starter w/ screwdriver, car turns over, starter engages fine.
5) turned lights on, try to start, nothing, no drop in voltage at all.
6) Left key in on position checked for voltage at purple wire, nothing.
7) put a voltage probe on the purple wire in the ecm harness inside car, tried to crank no voltage (thick purple wire in black connector)
8) starting to think maybe VATS
9) fire up laptop and try to connect LT1Edit to wipe VATS out. Wiped VATS out successfully and reflashed ECU. Still the same issue after reflash. Pulled battery out and about to go try a new battery (but current battery is optima redtop reading 13.5 volts)

The only odd thing is the voltage gage on the dash is reading in the red zone, but figured that shouldn't stop it from cranking over (figured i'd get a turn since I can get a turn by using a screwdriver and crossing the terminals)

Feel like it's something stupid at this point as I've looked at all the grounds and they are all tight as are my connections.

Any thoughts what else I can try?

Had no electrical issues before pulling motor. This one has me stumped. Even with VATS disabled I thought I'd see voltage on the purple wire, but no success.

 

Well since I didn't have power to the purple wire, I chased it back to the relay. I pulled the relay down and took it off. I jumped the yellow and purple wires through the harness and ...bam!!! fired right up through open headers two years in the making, finally hearing it fire up feels good!