Sounding more and more like it's the column-mounted ignition switch OR the fusible links are not connected to the battery side of the solenoid. You should be able to tell if you have power at the ignition switch by probing the connections there wire-by-wire.

Some of us still have the very-short-time produced Chilton's for the '83-92 Rangers/'84-
90 BIIs, as well as the Haynes. Bought them both when I had my '86 Ranger. I'm still planning on getting the shop manuals from Helm, Inc. The DIY stuff on Autozone is sometimes 'incomplete', and I really don't feel like paying for ALLDATA just yet