starter woes

[mudgutsandglory]

awhile back my starter started making some bad grinding kinda sounds, then quit...i looked the flywheel over and thought it looked kinda worn, but not all that bad...so i just replaced the starter. new starter starts making grinding sounds, then quits working...will just spin and never catch anything...no matter where i turned the flywheel...so, i go and get a new flywheel thinking that will solve my problems...while under the truck jacked up i notice that it doesnt look like there is enough clearance between the starter and the flywheel, so i throw a shim in just to check before i go tearing the truck apart, of course the battery is dead from where i had it unhooked while removing the alternator bracket to paint it and the PS bracket...i hook battery up and check all my grounds, everything looks good, i go to start the truck and i just get clicking at the solenoid...so i charge the battery and try again...still just clicking, so now i undo the ground where it attaches to the ALT. bracket and clean it up with a wire brush, tighten it back down and try again, now there is a spark under the dash where my temp gauge light is grounded...and clicking...still no start.
so i came inside to keep from doing harm to my truck
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dan