Found the problem (or more accurately I'm in the general vicinity).

Being the only person on the bolt who would let a small truck related problem get to him such that he'd go outside in the icy driveway on a cold, dark night, I had to continue looking. :p I started fumbling with some wires between the grill and grill panel - I just turned the light switch on and started moving the wires seeing if anything happened. BINGO! Lights!! Hold it in a certain position - lights on; let it go - lights off.

So at least I know I can rewire this area and have lights. Besides the underdash main harness this was the ONLY other wiring on the truck that wasn't new! :rolleyes:

-ftyler