In short, I put a new distributor in my truck. Now it is hard to start. and when it does, it sputters then die.

Long story..... When I was handed this truck to work on, it had gone through a series of misdiagnosis. For starters, someone went to change the water pump and messed up the timing cover gasket, then gave up. So, when I started this nightmare it was tore down all the way to the block. I had to pull the harmonic balancer to get the timing cover off and replace the gasket. All that went well. I got the truck running again albeit, not well.
Anyway, I was able to limp it into my shop for a closer more comfortable look. First thing I checked was the timing. The timing marks where all over the place. So, I thought I found the big problem and bought a new distributor. The old one was a real bear to get out and took several days to do it. Soaking with kroil trying to turn with cannel locks. Repeat.
Well I got it out and put the new one in. When I put the new one in I realized that the firing order was way off. To give you an idea of how far off, they put the #8 spark plug on the #1 spot on the distributor. (I have no idea how this thing ran at all). Well, I fixed the firing order, found top dead center using the thumb over the #1 plug hole then sticking a screw driver in the hole to feel the piston trick. Lined the rotor up with the number one sparkplug. Then I went to start it and it was difficult. But it started ran pretty ok for a minute then sputtered out an died. Now, when I start it, it immediately sputters then dies.
A few other things to mention..... The old distributor was in fact bad, there was a severed wire. The previous owner was a true shade tree mechanic. To "fix" the poor running truck problem, he manufactured a throttle linkage assembly that he bolted to the carburetor. Likewise, this truck has a manual choke. I haven't messed with or ruled out the carburetor. But it was running before so.....
I haven't had much luck on getting answers on these forums so they are usually my last ditch effort for ideas. So, I'm looking for any ideas on what to try next without using the remove and replace form of trouble shooting.
The truck is a 1978 f250 351m electronic ignition. Fireing order 13726548.

 

Not too sure you are using the correct procedure for starting a cold engine with a manual choke.

The fact that it does fire up says a lot. The big question is why is it running out of gas?

There are 2 possibilities for now., either it's flooded or it just isn't getting enough gas. To verify if it might be flooded, remove a plug or two and see if they are wet or dry.

If wet, it's flooded , if dry not enough fuel. choke working?

 

I'm gonna say that I feel like an idiot. This morning I tackled this truck again. Turns out the thing was out of gas. I added 5 gallons and it fired right up. I timed it and the thing is running like a top. Once again I feel like an idiot. Sorry for wasting anyone's time with this post.

 

It isn't always that a simple fix does the trick, but we take them whenever offered. Thanks for being honest and sharing the solution with us.