Well, the previous owned "fixed" the clicky starter, but he was full of ghetto-fab, and he did an even worse wiring job than the stock stuff.

Do I really need to order a kit (I was trying to get this fixed by uhh... 4 days from now), or is it possible to go to a hardware store and/or mechanic and have it hot-wired more easily?

Anyone got pics/write-ups of their clicky-starter fix? If I understand it's just that the stock small wire (like 16 guage or some crap) rots out and needs to be replaced with a nice, clean, 8-guage or something... true?

Its a pretty straight forward fix.

Take signal wire (~14 guage) from inside the cab that normally runs to the starter put it to positive side of coil input on relay.

Ground otherside of coil on relay  (~same guage as starter wire)

Run wire from battery to high side of relay. (as heavy as you wish, 12 guage should be plenty)

Run wire from output side of relay to starter. (same as battery side of relay.  Again 12 guage should be plenty)

The idea is that when key kicks on, it activates the coil, moving the relay, supplying full battery power from battery to starter.

~Nate

Here is a quick pic I drew from memory.

and I should be able to do this all with standard 8guage current-carrying wire? Sounds good!

You can buy the same relay that Ford used for many years on their 60's and 70's trucks and car vehicles. Its black colored and designed for this situation. Cost about $6. Looks like this: http://surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2005031409482788&item=11-1108&catname=

or u could put a push bottun to atart ur rig with make sure it is atleast 25 amp switch.

Okay, now I'm lost... I DO need to get some sort of relay? Rather than just some wire to replace the stock stuff? I couldn't figure out why I would go from stock - with just wires... to putting in thicker wire and at the same time needing to add a relay...

(or is there already a relay and I just need to replace that as well?)

Would an Autozone or something similar carry the relay I need as a common part? I've only got a few hours after work to drive to my storage for it, get the parts, and fix it before this weekend.

Yes,
You'll need a relay.

The problem usually isn't just the wire from the ignition, its the total resistance of the ignition switch AND wires.  It doesn't allow enough amps to fully engage the starter.

Using a relay to supply more amps from from the battery totally fixes that problem.

~Nate

Check out this post, it should help with what to buy/look for ...http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content/topic,15958.0.html