Just a follow up, I got it fixed and running today!:rockin. Since it would start and run fine after replacing the ingintion switch when I would jump the solenoid I deduced that it was something in the solenoid circuit preventing the solenoid from getting power (big leap of faith there I know). So I downloaded a wiring diagragm of the starting circuit and began to chase it out. I started out at the solenoid using a test lamp. I probed the solenoid while my son turned the key (thank the lord for 6 year olds who want to help, he is a great brake bleeder helper too), no joy. Then I decided to go to the source end (ignition switch) and check for power and I had it right at the connector downstream from the switch, next in line was the fuse inside the cab, and I had power there, then to the body plug under the dash, had power there, then to the NSBU switch on the transmission. I had power at the purple wire coming in from the body plug. I had no power coming out at the yellow wire. I removed the NSBU and set it to nuetral with the little metal thingy and checked continuity and it checked out okay (I'd hve been pissed if the brand spankin new switch was bad. Reinstall the switch. Still no power out of it though, Turns out the yellow wire coming out of the NSBU at the connector was broken. It was likely one of the intermittent issues prior, and I finally killed it when I removed the plug. It appears someone monkeyed with it before as the retainer clip is half broken on one side. I put a temorary jumper across the two terminals and tried the key myself (son had to go to school this morning) and it roared to life! I removed the broken pin and soldered the wire to it and reset it in the plug, reattached, remounted everything I had taken apart (15 minutes, gotta love snap together cars).
