Wow, this is even better than the parts forum.
Somebody has really monkeyed with the starter wiring...the ground wire off the battery runs off below the air filter somewhere...
The guy called me and told me that somebody had offered him $1K, but they wanted to part it out which he did not want. I told him that my offer stood at $800, but that I am planning to fix the car up. I have not heard back yet.