Need Help To See if Engine Runs

[JohnnyOcean]

i just bought a 72 gmc as a parts truck to swap the engine, tranny, and some parts into my 67 c10 project....and before i swapthe engine over i'd like to get it started......i only had a few minute to work on it this morning before work so i dropped in a battery and turn the key and nothing happened.....so then i jumped the right side terminal on the starter to the battery and the engine turned.....felt alittle relieved......

now for what i'm gonna do tomorrow......to get it to start do i need to jump a wire from the battery to the hei distributor and jump the terminals on the starter?

what's the best way to get the engine started without using the questionable wiring on the truck?...any advice would be greatly appreciated