Last week i picked up my 72 Chevelle from the shop. I was getting it aligned. the batt wa s dead when i got it so i used their jumper pack and got it going. Just so happen i was low on gas and really needed to gas up. So i stop at a gas station a few block away. Well it was dark out at this time and i used my lights (which were dim). Of course i needed another jump. I asked a guy to help a brotha out. We go to connect the cables and unknown to me he crossed the polarity's. within seconds there was smoke coming from the starter area so i immediately disconnect the cables. After the smoke stopped i told him to try it agian, this time asking him if he had his polarity's correct. It fires up and i proceed home and as im driving the "hot" light begins to flicker. My temp sensor isnt conected.Its also runing rough during acceleration. ????

See if you can find the wire for the temp light and see if it's shorting out. Next check your charging system out, it won't run right if the voltage is low.

Years ago, when they came out with the alternator, I was told if you hook the battery up back wards, it will burn out the alternator, that may have what happened, and now you are not getting enought current to run the motor? Like the last post said, I would check the charging system.

i just had my batt tested. its bad. so im sure that was at least half the prob. what bothers me is when i drive at night using my lights. During the day im fine. but if im out b4 the sun goes down and leave when its dark i better go straight home because if not i will be asking for a jump (which got me in this mess). I chalk it up to old wiring. everything in that car is still original.

Does/is the tranny connected to the hot light too?

You need to check the rest of the charging system. Sounds like it isn't charging. When the car is running, it runs off the alternator.

Also clean the grounds, check the ground cable and battery cable going to the starter. They sometimes look ok, but aren't.

You can touch a screwdriver to the rear bearing housing on the alternator (engine running) to see if there is a STRONG magnetic pull. If not, it is not charging. Also you can start the car and then un hook the battery. If engine dies it is not charging. If it still runs you can start turning everything on like lites and blower motor to see if you can get it to quit running. Then it would be a regulator problem.
Bill

Got a DC volt meter?
I agree, sounds like it's not charging.

Did you find out what let the smoke out?
That sounded to me like the fusible link at the starter fried.

no i never did find exactly what smoked. all i saw was melted wire loom. the wires still seemed in tacked. The alternator has been tested and it's good. I want to replace the ground wire next cause my lights are really acting up at night. Its still starting but im guessing that now that there is damage in the wire there is more resistance which is giving me these issues.

Another idea, wierd as it may be i have seen it before, Crossing the polarity and shorting the wiring out can cause the wires to be damaged enough that they essentially turn into resisters. The metal itself burns and something happens to the metal so the wire turns into a bad conductor. I would definately check the grounds and make sure there arent any shorts in the system.