Holy buckets!
So I went 8.5 yards, and gave up & backed up the full 8.5 yards
by putting it all back together.

And all I would have had to do is rotate the key while pulling on the housing?
A simple jigglittalittleit'llopen?

Could somebody please whack me in the forehead with a 2x4?

The starter swicth option is looking better all the time.
My only concern is that the switch might shut the truck down while
I'm driving down the freeway.