Oh I do too but unfortunately yes my positive cable is cracked at the terminal connection and ended up being the problem. It's on the list lol.

 

got it running! thanks everyone! I cleaned and cut the wires to the battery, disconnected ground from block and positive from starter cleaned both and put back on real tight - it was good to go. I figured it was a wire but didnt know which one because I could jiggle any of em to get the power back on but it just would never start

 

I traced the problem to a bad ground from the battery terminal to the chassis just next to the battery. It had just been put over paint at some point in the past so there never really was metal to metal directly. Wire brushed everything and it started right up!