Remove the starter and inspect the ring gear on the flywheel.
Bad starter, bad flywheel/ring gear, bad starter/flywheel alignment.
Ignition switch, battery, battery cables, starter relay, starter solnoid, starter, flywheel ring gear.
The starter is probably not aligned with the flywheel. The clearance between the starter and the ring gear needs to be checked.
The part of the starter called the starter drive is shot and hopefully the flywheel ring gear is not damaged also. I would recomend removing the starter and inspecting the flywheel ring gear and if it looks okay replace the starter with a rebuilt or new one.
You need to remove the starter and look at the teeth on both parts.
It could be the starter drive, the solenoid, or the ring gear itself. Best to pull the starter out of there and see what's going on.
The starter may require shims to correct that. The ring gear and or the flywheel may be damaged also.
Take out the transmission and there it is. The flywheel holds the ring gear for the starter. If your ring gear has been obliterated by your starter you have an issue with how the starter engages the fly wheel to begin with. Proper clearances, alignment and securing of your starter will make your trooper whole agian.
You will damage the starter and worse case, the flywheel/ring gear.
Vehicle won't start Vehicle won't start when hot (starter drags) Starter spins not engaging flywheel (ring gear)
The starter bendix is not mating with the ring gear on the flywheel. The soleonoid on the starter motor may be faulty or the teeth of the flywheel or the bendix may have stripped. A bench test of the starter motor would be advised.
Weak starter drive? Broken tooth on flywheel (Ring gear) Weak battery? Weak starter solenoid?