["QUICK-SILVER"]

Hey Scott,
Melted insulation might be all you see. You caught it before it got ugly bad. Pink is probably/should be IGN 1 coming out of the ignition switch. It's only hot with switch in run position, and it's only protection is the fuse link to the switch, coming from under the hood, the one that got the jumper. Ignition (coil) and dash lights is about all it powers.

It would be nice to know now how the harness (IGN1 & IGN2) was modified for the MSD. The indicator lights on the dash have pink going to one side of a bulb, so don't see how that could be a problem. Originally IGN1 and IGN2 both went to coil (+) terminal. IGN2 was straight 12 volts for cranking, where IGN1 had the resistance wire before the coil for running.

All wires/circuits are fused, it's just that some are fused twice. Some are fuse link only while others have fuse link and go through the fuse box. Any wire can overheat and smoke. Chances are yours wasn't one protected by the fuse box. So sounds like you need to give the ignition system a good look over, since pink looked melted. A bad ground on a circuit 'normally' just turns something off or keeps it from working.

The 5/16 X 1" stud should be plenty, as long as you use GOOD wire terminal ends.
Not sure how you'ld feel about the look, but using the side post on the altima, like you are now, is doing the same thing as a seperate stud/junction block. You could put a threaded stud in it, then clamp down what you need with a nut. Really depends on what all you're moving to the junction block. Anything really high amp, like the fan, would stay hooked to the battery if it was mine.

Check out that pink wire good and then we'll get into routing a common junction up top.

Which ignition system have you got, and how or where does it's running power come from? Most the boxes use factory ignition wires to turn them on and have a seperate power wire that hooks straight to the battery.
And what size do you think the melted pink wire is?

We may be fixing to get somewhere with this.
Getting a few more puzzle pieces anyway.
Clay