Ford F-150 - 1997-2003 :: Interior Light Staying On Even With The Door Closed

A little history first. 1998 F-150XL ... We bought this truck in 2001 and other than some random electrical issues we love this truck. The first thing to go bad was the was the interior light staying on even with the door closed, no big deal I just removed the bulb, the next thing to go bad was the instrument cluster except the speedometer, not too big of a deal just keep track of the mileage so you don't run out of gas. The next problem was randomly not starting like it lost its ground, the lights on the dash would be bright until you hit the starter then the lights on the dash would go dim and the starter would tap like it had no ground. Wait a few minutes and it would start again and it would be a year before it would do it again, until now!

Drove to town came back out did it again except this time would not start again. We pulled the starter switch it was good, replaced the clutch engagement switch on the clutch pedal, no good. Decided to pull it home, tried to pop start it, no dice. While pulling home all the sudden everything lit up on the dash and it started like a champ, drove it the rest of the way home and it wouldn't start back up. Since then I have put in a new battery, new battery wire ends, took lose the ground on the firewall and starter and cleaned them with no luck. I can get the lights to come up bright on the dash again, but as soon as I hit the starter all goes dead again. I am at a complete loss where to go next?