my engine wont stay running more than a few seconds, i think its this....

[505challenger]

hi guys, i just finished putting this car (340 72 chally) back together and i cant figure out why it wont stay running longer than a few seconds and i really need to break in my new cam.  one thing i noticed is that the resistor block "thingy" gets really hot with the key on, i turned it off after it got to 230 and it was still climbing!!  when the car shuts off, it got to be spark related because it doesnt studder or anything, just shuts off, even if ive got it idleing above 3000rpm.  that actually brings me to another question, when breaking in a cam i was inder the uderstanding that you needed to keep the rpms above 2500rpm in order to be sure and splash the cam with oil from the crank, but i thought that the 340's used a windage tray?

[Chryco Psycho]

it could be the ballast or the pick up inside the dist
you need to keep the engine at 1800-2000 for 20 minutes , the oil splash is from the oil coming off the crankshaft

[505challenger]

whats the ballast?  new update on the heating up of resistor block thingy, when i leave the key on for just a couple of minutes, the center of it gets up to 310+ degrees, is that normal?

[MEK-Dangerfield]

The ballast is the "resistor block thingy". If it is new, it will heat up and smoke some the first time. Yes, it will get hot leaving the key in the "on" position.

Besides being electrical, this could also be a fuel problem... Too much, or not enough from a blockage. Is the carb new? Has this car sat for ages? Stale gas?

[505challenger]

i didnt get a chance to try and fire it again, could it be the coil? 

[Chryco Psycho]

could be the coil failing as it heats up

[TROUBLE987]

you running elect or mech pump?

[505challenger]

mechanical pump, i know there is fuel in the bowls