i just had my firebird (67) give ma a hard time starting. actually when i turned the key. it did nothing (battery is new) when i jumped the solenoid with a screwdriver, it started right away. so i checked the wire from the key to the solenoid. it was sending power. the next thing that happened was the dome light started smoking. eveidently the bulb got too hot and melted the coating off the wire. obviously the bulb was too big.
but the question i have now, is the dome light the reason it wasn't starting, or is there another problem somewhere? because it seams to start now fine, or at least so far. but could that short pull enough power to stop it from starting? thanks in advance.
also is there suppose to be a fuse for that light, because it didn't blow any fuses. but melted wire away.

Your power wire to your dome light shorted to the top and sucked up all your juice until it finally burned lose and let you finally start the car. Just a theory. You got some 'hot wiring' going on?

Poor grounds will make all kinds of weird things happen, similar to the damage you mention to the dome light wire. The oddest poor ground thing I have ever seen was a brake line start smoking, almost cherry hot. Because I ain't an electric guy, I never could understand how a poor ground would cause such a problem.

Rule one with electrical issues. Verify a good ground, then move on from there.