Howdy all!

I am having a problem with ignition on my 85 vanny..

BAsically. The smaller gauge wire that runs from the alternator to the
starter (not to the battery) broke at the connector to the alternator. It
was running well at 1000 rpm at higher, but at idle it would sputter and die
unless i kept the rpms up. Unknowning about the broken wire, i drove to work
and parked it. After sitting for 10hrs i left my job tried to start the van,
but it would just spark once and die. Thnking it was my battery i hooked up
a jumper box to it. Same thing no start, then i got a jump from a coworker.
Still nothing. The engine was getting fuel and air. Then I pulled the
distributor cap and the rotor was literally incinerated to the center
contact. I have never seen anything like this before. Where the rotor arm
was... was nothing but ASH. I had the van towed and found the broken wire
from the alternator and then checked my fuse block. The 25amp blade-type
fuse for what i'm assuming was to the ignition was melted with the block. I
fixed that.

Now I'm assuming that when i was trying to start the van with the broken
wire, that the constant turning over might have fried my rotor and fuse.

What does this wire do or goto is what i need to know. I am getting voltage
at the coil and the hall controller.  I checked the hall sender but dint get
any flucuations in voltage as per Bentely. Did the high voltage toast my
sender? Should i be looking for anything else that might be affected by the
broken wire (from the alternator to the starter) that would cause this high
voltage situation again???

I need to know so i dont toast the replacement parts..

love,

tom