that key trick wont really work with your truck since someone converted it to carb. there will be a crap load of code for all the stuff that was replaced to make the carb system work.

the ball joint must have been pretty bad if you had one go out on you. if you are looking for cheap parts you may want to check out rockauto.com. if you can get everything shipped from 1 location you can get everything fairly cheap just make sure you grease them good. you may also want to grease the entire front end after you replace the ball joints. also if you use discount code 4417B6ED82A4 you can save 5% off any parts you order from rockauto.

 

I'm just guessing. My front end started to rumble and I slowed down, then there was a big clunk and I dropped a few inches. The tires are a bit ****-eyed. My experience with breakdowns is mostly bomb related, so this is pretty new to me.

 

well you may want to check the front end over for any broken parts and get back to use. check to make sure the coil spring did not break. i think if you got a bad ball joint it should be pretty obvious. if not you jack up each front wheel individually and put your hands at 12 and 6 on the tire and push with 1 hand and pull with the other back and forth to see any play. this should tell you what shape the ball joints are in. the more movement the worse they are. also while doing this you may want to put your hands at 3 and 9 and do the same push with 1 hand and pull with the other to check what shape the steering parts are in.

 

I found one of your older posts explaining this, next time I'll be doing more research before I start blindly asking questions. Work is off atm due to weather though. I'll post what I find in a few days.

 

glad you had good luck with the search function. i know sometime it does not work that great. i hear you on the weather. suppose to rain here for the next couple of days and possibly so most of my plans will also be put off until the weather gets nicer.

 

Found whats left of the casting numbers, searching them now. Got under the front end, looks like it's as simple as the front brake locking up. Everything else looks good, and I can barely turn it, so I'm going to do some replacements and cross my fingers.

 

Needed new calipers, but that wasn't the problem. Anything over 20 and the front end shakes and the drive shaft (I think) is clunking under my ***. I did get the carb adjusted better though, so thats good.

 

replacing caliper on a dodge truck is easy and cheap. clunking and shaking could be caused by bad universal joints on the drive shaft.

 

Completely my fault. I forgot two of the clips on the UV joint I did, one of the caps fell off and started throwing the drive shaft all over hell. Live and learn, she's goin down the road just fine now.

 

Cool truck. If you haven't already figured out which motor it has (318 or 360), get underneath the truck on the drivers side with a flashlight. Shine it up towards the block, behind where the starter is located. There will be a bunch of random numbers, a dash, and then either a 318 or 360. That will tell you which it is. I personally would hope for a 318, I like them better.