Car Problems.........

[RichMusson]

Guys
I would to make it to the cruise planned for today but………
Y’all know I have car problems. Basically it’s some type of electrical issue.
As anyone that was at the Picnic probably knows my car died on the way home yesterday. The more I think about the symptoms the more confused I get. I would really appreciate some help in coming up with a theory/ diagnosing my problem.
I am going to list my symptoms etc I would appreciate it if anyone has a theory as to the issue.

First some background:
1. I relocated my battery to the truck last spring in order to make room for a 5-link suspension. (It is a FFR and the stock location for the battery is under the floor / above the axle) The wiring etc that was used was put together with off the shelf products. It is not in a battery box.
2. It is an Optima battery.
3. It is a one wire alternator.
4. I have never had electrical problems before. However, this is a kit and problems do develop over time.

Other electrical Issues after the relocation:
1. The car began to miss a lot this spring. The distributor cap needed to be vented because water vapor was accumulating. Also the rotor cap and wire connection were corroded. I do not know if this is connected to the same issue or just a function normal maintenance requirements
2. Originally I though there may be some issue with my MSD ignition system. There were a couple of times that the ignition cut out………then came right back on. Within a second or so. This still could be at least part of the problem. It could be wiring or it could be to ignition box itself.
3. I have had to jump the car a couple of times this summer. It seems inconsistent after leaving the car for a few days. Sometimes it starts right up sometimes the battery is almost dead.
4. I do have a battery cut-off switch that I always use. However, the car is EFI so it has a ‘keep-alive’ wire with a small fuse to give power to the computer.

This is what happen yesterday at the Picnic:
1. I had to jump the car in the morning. Realize, because of I was having this problem I did put a volt meter on the battery Friday night. It read 14+ volts (?). I did not recheck the battery when I jumped the car.
2. I drove to the picnic without a problem. The car started after the picnic without a problem (well after I re-engaged to battery cut-off switch).
3. I got as far as the toll road when the ignition died. I had NO power to anything thing. NO horn, NO lights, NO battery power at all – anyplace. The battery and the wires were actually warm to the touch……..I reached under the car and giggle the wires. I could not feel anyplace where they were touching and metal or anything.
4. After a minute or so I got ignition power back. The dash volt meter was at like 9 volts. The car would not crank.
5. A number of great guys form the picnic came to my aid (Thank y’all again; so very much). We jumped the car and it started right up. I do have posts under the hood. That is where we jumped the car. So we by-passed the battery and the battery wires.
6. I drove home without a problem.
7. When I got the car in the garage the battery was warm but the wires had cooled down. I put the Multi-Meter on the battery; it read like 18 volts (?)
8. In a panic I disconnected the battery.
9. Once the car had cooled down; I reconnected the battery and put on the headlights.
10. Later when I rechecked the battery read 11.75 volts. Again I disconnected the battery.
11. In the morning the battery reads 11.75 volts.
12. The car cranks fine and starts right-up.

So guys any ideas?
1. Is there some type of circuit breaker on the MSD box that would ‘pop’ if there were too much power on the circuit?
2. If there was a short someplace could it trick the regulator into thinking it needed to have the alternator continue to put out power and actually overcharge the battery?
3. Can the optima actually charge to 18 volts?
4. Seems like if I really had that much power on the system and it was that way for several months & there was a short someplace…….. Well by now I would have welded two parts together at a bear minimum.