You are correct, sir!
If there is no juice at the red wire for the switch, there can only be a couple of reasons...
The fuse link is bad, which you checked OK.
There is a break in the wire from the starter to the switch.
The only connection from the starter to the switch is gonna be at the main bulkhead connection, under the brake booster. It can get some corrosion in it, and create similar 'lectrical boo-boos.
(Not to say that there may not be a break in the wire anywhere else between the starter and there.)
Have you tried to run a 12v+ jumper to the headlight switch(to the red wire), and see if the lights will burn that way?

That big red wire is the one that comes from the starter protected by the fused link. No power at the switch end of that wire? Can you try running a wire directly to the battery or a battery terminal at the fuse panel and to the switch and try jumping the lights? Just to see what that gets you? I would just touch the wires together, don't connect anything in case you need to disconnect it quickly. Just enough to flash the lights. If that works then you do need to trace that red wire back all the way to the starter. SURE the fused link is OK? But why do the rest of the lights work? If no power to the headlight switch, how do the rest of the lights come on? Assuming you disconnected the cable at the battery to do the work, is it reconnected clean and tight now? Had an issue with my white 79 where the cable was tight but apparently not tight enough. When warm it wouldn't start and the headlights wouldn't come on either. Vette DOES start OK?   Edit....I type too slow!! Looks like we have similar ideas, Joel.mkapp787938946.6020717593

Apparently, there is a smaller orange wire at the switch that get battery power and operates the running and marker lights. The Red cable only powers up the headlights.

If there's nothing else running off of the fused wire from the starter, why not just tap off of that permanently and run it into the cabin instead of opening up a wire loom if there's an inert wire within it?

May be the way to go. Going now to test fire the lights with a temporary jumper. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks again troops!

Paul

 

LukesVette38946.6464351852

Let there be light!! Jumped in the hood light source which looks to the the same guage and I have no hood light....tadaa - we have candlepower!!

I also traced the wires along the firewall and there is power from the battery all the way to the bulkhead. problem seems to lie at the bulkhead connection somewhere.

a few inches of wire to mate up at the bulkhead and to the switch and we're back in buzineeeeessss!!

Thanks for all the tips, info and suggestions!

Paul

LukesVette38946.6886342593