I just finished putting a new Cam (292 dur/.498 lift), a new edelbrock performer RPM intake and 600 cfm holley carb on my '68 302. After setting the timing to "0", I got it running. Fired right up! It ran fine, 2000 rpm, but it ran fine. I stopped at that point and the next day, I went to set the timing with a light, but the light was broke. Now I keep fouling plugs. I take some of the plugs out and they will be wet and wreaking of gas. I can clean each plug off, put them back in, set the timing to "0" but now it will fire up but wont stay running.

Also, I crank it but after a minute of trying, the battery dies and it wont crank.

Any ideas?

 

The high RPM idle and fouled plugs sounds like a vacuum leak. I didn't like the Performer RPM on my 302. It's power is at such a high RPM range that you have to change a lot of other things all over the powertrain. I liked the performer. You might fix your problem with timing or De-Jetting, but it sounds like vacuum.

 

It was the alternator. I'm excited! Gonna get it tuned in tomorrow.