[Speedbumpauto]

You have to remove the solenoid and manually engage the drive to the ring gear. Not the easiest thing to do, especially on the vehicle. Before you get wrapped around the axle about brackets, correct bolts, washers, etc, IMO it was your wild variations in timing that broke that starter. I have violated virtually every one of those rules in my career and never broke a starter housing, but then I've never ran a hose from the intake manifold to the water pump either. You are letting "too many cooks make your soup." There is lots of advice here and much of it is opinion, not always good but always well intentioned. Now that you have a timing light, use it to set initial timing and your problems will start to go away. There is only so much real help you can get from the internet. It's kind of like sex, you can talk about it and read about it but sometimes you just have to be there to get the best result. find someone you trust to help you actually lay hands on that truck. I don't mean to offend, but I'm convinced, like I think many others here are, that if I had 2 hours with that truck it would be sorted out. I know you can find someone like that where you are. I do admire your tenacity. Good luck.