I’m also a fix-it guy and I’ve been through all those problems but I’d be for dumping a 400k mile money pit. I haven’t had a gasser for so long, IDK which one has the least of all the later-vehicle evils. One of the 1/2t crew cabs. At least the 8 and 10 spd transmissions are a bunch better, now. Craig
FWIW, I’ve read about new boutique steering boxes that were still sloppy. Someone who knows how to adjust it might be able to fix the wandering problem. My 12 Dodge also had those steering problems and after I replaced everything that was loose, I adjusted the box and completely stopped the wandering. I also had the alignment shop max out the caster.