More on the truck

The truck is doing about the same.  I replaced the tie rods (with the steering wheel upside down!) and had to get them removed, replaced, and the truck aligned at Sears.  They also replaced a ball joint.  My truck still has a wobble factor which may be due to a bad steering gear box, bad joints in the steering column, or some other wild cause. 

I did manage to change the passenger-side plugs to try and alleviate issues with rough running.  To do this costs around 400.00 at a shop.  I had to take the wheel off, remove the splash shield, use a long screwdriver to remove the plugs and blow out the recesses with an air compressor. I installed the plugs.  I put back the splash guard but not without cursing a blue streak.  The truck still doesn't run smooth but does run a hair better.  It's also low on gas.   Another fly in the ointment is that I was told that the camshaft position sensor is out of whack. 

I'm worried about the bump I get when I put the truck in reverse.  There could be a transmission situation that I will have to tend to later, especially if shifting gets worse.

I need to sand the roof and strip the hood and paint both.  I want my truck to do good on a trip to everywhere short of Atlanta.