The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk starter question

The starter should turn without the key, but the truck won't start without the key because the coil won't get juice, (unless you run wire directly from the hot terminal on the starter to the coil).

You can take your starter to Autozone or another FLAPS and they can test the starter.

With the starter out you can try to turn the engine using a long prybar, the teeth on the flywheel and the opening for the starter as a fulcrum. If the engine doesnt turn freely, you may have something rusted in there= ie piston to cylinder...

As Joker says, make sure and check all your grounds:

Battery to frame.
block to frame.
body to frame.