Ok, normally I'd look it up in the online manual but my laptop has taken a dump and I'm currently using this black berry for the internet. It won't load a pdf file. So here goes:
On my 81, when I pop the hood on the drivers side fender near the firewall are two big relay lookin jobbies. What are they and what do they do? The front one has two wires dangling from it and one of those wires is getting voltage when the key is on. Mind you this car had it emissions gutted before I got the car (amongst other things)so I'm trying to go back over someone else's "handywork".
I swear I'm gonna get this car back to the way it should be.

 

do the dash warning lights work?

 

Yes actually they do.

 

On the UK car they're normally the 'Choke and Check' relay - it enables a test of dash warning lights like 81gen1 was suggesting and the other is a relay that is bowden cable connected to the carb - 'Hot start Relay'. That one pulls on the cable to prop the throttle a bit when hot.
Hope these are the same on your car.

 

Ok, now its clear why their disconnected. The car currently has a holley carb. Still no excuse for them to be left the way they were though.
Maybe I can use them for something else since I'm seeing voltage when the key is on. Electric fan maybe?