Have you made sure the battery is full charged? Did you check all the connection to the starter? Primary wire, and the actual start wire? What about the ground for the truck? You didn't mention if, you actually shorted something out? Electricty will take the path of lease resistance. So if it can be lazy, and not actually have to do some work, then that's what it will do. What it really sound like, is that you blew your fusible link. On 82 trucks it's, next to the battery. If you look youll have a primary wire coming up from the starter. You'll also have some wires attached that are going into a wire loom. You need to look at these wires. One of those is your fusible link. I think it's, the one that actually comes apart?? don't hold me to that. This is a good starting point to start looking. If that doesn't do it, I'll actually look at my service manual, for that year truck. I also own a 82 truck, except I put in a 86 turbo engine. Hope this helped and good luck.