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