you can do a quick test -Carefully- to see if the ring gear is chipped:
When you shut off the engine, it generally stops in one of 4 places on a V8
When you get the no-crank condition, with the ignition key OFF turn the engine a little bit (if you have a direct drive fan you can sometimes use that to turn the engine a little) with either a socket on the crank or grabbing the upper part of the belt where it crosses over from the alternator to the water pump pulley and pulling to move the engine a little. Try to start the car again, if it starts, it may be the ring gear. I would do this a couple of times to confirm before shooting the ring gear as the culprit.
Otherwise you will have to pull the starter (hopefully just the starter bolts are loose - seen that cause this problem before)
If you do decide to pull the starter, do so after you get the no-crank condition so you can verify there isn't a ring gear problem while the starter is out of there.
