thank you for the info, email is southernforklift at nu mail dot org

if someone has some info for you they will probably need an email address and you need to spell out the (dot) and (at) to keep it from being erased.
as for the broken wire... that wire also provides a tach signal to the governor controller in the right step panel. you need to unplug the gov controler and the TWC controler in the left step panel and check continuity from the black wire at the distributor to the black / white stripe at the twc and the black at the governor,,, should be -0- ohms. then check to ground,,,should be infinity. the wire is inside of a sheild and sometimes rubs through to the sheild and or is crimped together when wire is being repaired. another very problematic area is the ground point on the head between the 3 and 4 cylinders

thanks for the replies, it is all electronic and any literature would be appreciated. did find broken wire at distributor and repaired, i will check vacuum with a gauge. checked valve timing and is ok. seen a lot of broken wires on a 7 series

does this truck have electronic governor control? do you have or need any literature?

if you are sure that spark and fuel are ok (cranking and key on) check the cranking vacuum. should be at least 14inhg. if low check exhaust for restriction, check for valve timing issues.
if it has a mechanical governor check it for a stuck closed plate or a broken spring

Does it just have spark when key on start position? If so than check the wires on the distributor. I have seen th tach signal wire break and create some problems. They usually break on the harness end.