how do you figure out if power is getting to the starter?

do you have a test light?

no

i tried pypassing the clucth relay to no go

I'm assuming you bypassed the clutch pedal safety switch. You're going to need a meter or test light to test for power.

take a hot wire from the battery plus to the thin wire on the starter solenoid ,and tap it to the terminal .if it energizes the starter you'll know power wasn't making the trip

Do yourself a favor and spring for a test light, even wal mart sells em

DO NOT test the starter with a wire unless the transmission is in neutral.

learn by trial and error, love it ! its the error that is a bitch.

Not fun when you're stuck between the car and the garage wall.

yeah dont take a hot lead down to the starter. the chances of you not grounding it on accident are slim ya dont need to make sparks wild man.