Usually on an automatic the NSS connector will also have the reverse light wires as well, which will need to be transferred to the manual trans connector/switch.
Reverse light wire will have 12v with key ON, and when trans is in reverse that 12v is passed to reverse lights
Wiring diagram here:
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/EDiagrams/files/Diagram_backuplights.JPG
And yes you can just connect the Starter relay cut off wires together, or rewire for a clutch NSS switch.
One of these wires will have 12volts only when Key is in the START position.
If NS switch is closed(park/neutral) that 12volts is passed to starter relay AND ignition module, so there can be 3 wires involved
This is a '83-'88 wiring diagram:
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/EDiagrams/files/Diagrams_StartIgnition83to882_9.JPG
In this diagram it shows just 1 wire in and 1 wire out of NSS for cut out function, so ignition module and relay wires are spliced together at another point, but like all wiring, factory can change back and forth on a whim, lol.
FYI, the reason for the ignition module/coil wire via the NSS is to give the coil the full battery voltage while engine is cranking, the coil only gets about 7 volts via a resistor while engine is running, this lower voltage helps prevent overheating of the coil.
When cranking the battery voltage drops to about 10volts with starter motor draw, via the resistor, the coil would get only 4volts at that time, so very weak spark.
10volts while cranking will be a hot spark which is needed to start cold engine, and 7volts is more than enough to keep it running.
Prior to NSS switches the Starter Relay would have 4 posts, the two smaller posts,"S" and "I" were for Key activated Start, "S" post.
And "I" post for Ignition, it ran to the "+" on the coil, so same idea as above, it gave coil full battery voltage when cranking/starting.
Symptom for a problem is if engine starts while cranking then dies when you let off the key, 7volt wire is bad
Engine doesn't start when cranking but backfires when you let off the key, 10volt wire is bad, backfire is because 7volts sparks at least 1 cylinder when you let off the key.