Thanks for all the help, I have connected all chips and bypass caps, everything seems ok. The diode is a 1N5908 that I should be able to source.
Once again, thanks a bunch for your knowledge!
Yes, 5V at the output pin! Now, is 14V too much for input voltage? The regulator is still getting hot, but maybe that's normal hence the heat sink attached to it. R32 is dropping the voltage a bit, but not a ton. Just making sure it's normal.
There are 2 components that get super hot, U17 and R32 (5V section). Does the fact that U17 staying cool when the output leg is disconnected, tell us that U17 isn't the issue? Or could U17 still be the problem?
Yes, all chips were verified to be correctly installed. I then removed one at a time until all socketed chips were removed and the 5V was still loaded down.
Here's some of the readings..
R32
Voltage IN = 15.3
Voltage OUT = 5.1
U17
Voltage IN = 5.1
Voltage OUT = 2.9
U16
Voltage IN = 14.7
Voltage OUT = 12.6
I removed all socketed chips one at a time and nothing brought the 5V back up. To me it seems that R32 is dropping the voltage too much and...
For 5V at the CPU, I'm measuring across pins 35 and 39 (using pin 35 for +5V and pin 39 for ground).
Don't forget, R32 and U17 are getting smoking hot, still don't know why that is either.