I have a 1983 Ram with a six-cylinder engine. It came with a lean
burn computer and a 1-barrel carb. I had the lean burn taken out
and replaced with the previous electronic ignition system (ballast
resistor-type). Both of these procedures were done more than a year
ago, and the truck ran good with those modifications. Recently, the
truck would just stop running (no electricity). I took it to a
shop, and they adjusted the timing, carb and replaced the EGR. All
these things were needed, but did not solve the problem. The ballast
resistor was also replaced. One thing peculiar I notices, was that
that the rotor button and distributor cap have sparking marks on the
extreme edge of the contact, rather than in the center of the
contact. I'm wondering, could the distributor be bad, or has my
timing belt jumped a link. Also I've noticed that it has lost its
trade mark Dodge start (high pitched whine) and now starts hard like
the compression is too high. If anyone can remember what an old
Chevy 350 sounded like when you tried to start it hot, that's as
close as I can get to a good description of how it starts.

Anyway, any ideas you may have to help me get this old truck running
right again will be appreciated

It must have been running for the shop to do what they did?
Sometimes a defective pick-up coil in the distributor will act up only when it is hot. Sheese, that electronic ignition is pretty basic (for me) so it should not be difficult to find the problem when it is acting up.
Engine cranks hard now? I'd say you have worn bushing(s) in the starter which is making the armature drag. In other words, the starter is now fighting itself.

is there a specific test for the distributor. I'd have hoped the shop would have checked it out along with everythng else. As for teh starter, it doesn't strt hard all the time. Last night it was fine on first start up after several hours of sitting. It usualy only starts had on the first start of the day or after a long period of sitting? If i have to replace the distributor, o I ned to replace it with a dual pickup coil (because of the lean burn conversion) or a one with a single pickup coil single pickup. I didn't do the conversion myself; rather had it done by someone who was reputed o be a good mechanic.

If you had the lean burn removed and standard electronic ignition added, you will need a single pick up distributer. Might also want to check the coil, they can crap out when they get hot and work again (weakly) when cool.