Trouble starting

Last night I tried to start my 86 Ram, and I got nothing but silence. When I put my foot on the break the cab light would go out, and lights on the dash turned on. Both signal lights on the dash, and the highbeam light were glowing when the break was depressed. I tried jump starting it, and tapping the starter but got nothing. Every once and awhile there would be a little click when trying to turn over but that's all. Finally I had to get someone to come and tow it. The BCAA guy offered to try and jump start it, and without him jump starting it, just jiggling the battery wires the truck started instantly.

The starter does look old, and is covered in oil, but this problem hasnt come up again. The previous owner says he had trouble with the reverse lock-out so he grounded it out. What might be my problem, I don't want to spend money on a new starter if I don't have to.

Check your battery cables for corrosion. I've seen many vehicles do odd things when the voltage wasn't right.

No corrosion. It's started doing it more often. Today it did it once, and I jiggled the battery wires, and it started fine. But later that day in the evening the wire jiggling method didn't work. Tomorrow I am going to replace a lot of the wiring. If that doesn't help my problem any suggestions?

If jiggling the wires fixed it, then check all your connections. One or more of them is bound to be loose.

Okay fixed the problem, replaced the batter contacts, and rewired some stuff. Another problem pops up.

I installed some licence plate lights that are attached to a wire the previous owner said was the proper wire. I start the truck after installing and the lights work, but when I pop it into reverse it stalls. I maganed to get it out of the parking spot I was in, but stall in an intersection and have to start the truck in reverse and reverse back to my parking spot. After this I drove it around the block and continued to stall in drive. If I had the gas pedal depressed slightly to go at a constant speed the truck would momentarily lose power, and try to stall. I parked the truck and listened to it idling in park and it runs rough, almost stalling at times. I detatch the licence plate lights and listen to the idle in park again, it sounds mildly different, but still runs rough. I was driving the truck pretty hard and fast today, flooring it a few times. What should I look at? Maybe the battery was drained while I was installing the lights, maybe I ran it too hard today and something else has come loose? Maybe the lights are draining power from something they shouldn't?

Truck specs:
1986 Dodge Ram 250
5.2L V8 Automatic

Wish I had an idea, but I don't. .

Well for a start I'm going to replace the fuel filter, and any other cheap parts that could cause problems. My last resort will be taking it to Canadian Tire and getting it checked out, but they'll give me some BS answer and make me pay too much.