Hi Bartamos. No worries about all the steps. These things are tough to diagnose via the internet.
Here's the answers:
Yes it is just an on/off switch. So when off, there is no continuity between any terminal to any other terminal (tested all possible combinations of the 3 terminals) nor is there continuity to the case of the switch. I call the power in terminal "Battery" just out of habit, none of these three terminals are labeled.
With the switch on there is continuity to all three terminals, or of course between any two terminals, and there is no continuity to the case.
Truck has the foot starter, no solenoid. Coil is 12V with internal resistor, no external ballast resistor on the firewall or in the circuit. There is no bypass circuit to the coil.
The ignition switch bracket is not hard to get off.
Wires to the ignition switch:
1. Power IN from the Ammeter, this goes on it's own terminal (the one I was habitually calling "Battery")
2. Power OUT to the coil
3. Power OUT to the gauges
4. Power OUT to the heater fan
5. Power OUT to the radio
The Power out wires go on any lug other than the one for Power IN
Battery is 3 years old, and seems to hold good voltage (13V on the multimeter when fully charged on the bench)
