No spark

So you have fuel and spark. If I read this correctly, you are sure that you have power to the spark when key is on (not cranking) and the engine dies when you let your foot off the gas.

To get it to idle the next thing is to check whether all the vacuum ports are plugged up. A large enough vacuum leak will cause it to die at idle.

Then, you can check whether your idle is set high enough on your carb both with choke on and with choke off.

Then be sure your timing is set high enough for happy idle. Some engines like a lot more timing than what factory used to say.

I’m probably out of order here. If it were me, I think I would look at all possible vacuum ports on the carb and intake manifold (don’t forget the intake) and ensure they are capped. Then turn the idle screw way in so that the carb will give plenty of fuel and air to stay running. Then try to get it to run long enough to adjust timing with a light.

Once you get it to stay running you can dial in timing, idle mixture, and idle, and check for smaller vacuum leaks with some carb cleaner sprayed around the base of the carb.

I did get it running last night.
I had this feeling that it was a fuel issue. I started tinkering with the carb fuel bowl levels. When I cranked them way down, it would fire and keep running.

But then I couldn’t get the truck to stop running.
I turned the key off and it kept running.
I think that’s because I ran a wire from the battery + auxiliary wire, straight to the coil.

That would do it. Good to hear you got it running

Rich77 said:

I did get it running last night.
I had this feeling that it was a fuel issue. I started tinkering with the carb fuel bowl levels. When I cranked them way down, it would fire and keep running.

But then I couldn’t get the truck to stop running.
I turned the key off and it kept running.
I think that’s because I ran a wire from the battery + auxiliary wire, straight to the coil.

Click to expand...

That wire was supposed to only be temporary to make sure you didn't have an ignition power problem. As soon as it didn't fix your problem you should have removed it and gone back to the regular system.

Now that you have it able to run with you out of the drivers seat, you need to do the proper carb and distributor adjustments. Judging by your description of cranking down fuel bowl levels, I'm assuming you have a holley or Edelbrock? If it's a holley, google carb adjustment procedures. They have a great series of videos that will walk you through how to properly set it up. If its an edelbrock, I don't know how to help you.

Once carb initial fuel bowl level and mixture settings have been set, then set your initial timing. Once initial timing is set, then you can set your hot idle and then choke high idle after it cools down.

Yes, sir. It is a Quickfuel (Holley) 750.

Bextreme04 said:

That wire was supposed to only be temporary to make sure you didn't have an ignition power problem. As soon as it didn't fix your problem you should have removed it and gone back to the regular system.

Click to expand...

I did switch back to the other wire and it fired up and shut down as it should.