First time engine starting, wont stay running. Need Help

Okay today I finally got my 302 fired up in my 67 mustang.
If I pump the gas twice, it will fire right up, jump to 2000 rpm for 5-6 seconds, then creep down and die.
I can feather the gas for a few seconds longer to keep it running. However once it drops below 1000 rpm it dies no matter what I do.

Any suggestions?

Bigs 650 Stage3
E303 Cam
GT40X Heads
E-Curve Dist

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: strtcar on 4/7/07 9:12am ]</font>

Increase idle mixture, throttle plate opening, and check timing.

Sounds like a vacuum leak. You're overcoming the vac. leak with more fuel but if it's bad enough it won't stay lit. Might check your plugs and see if they are wet from flooding.

I had the same problem and it ended up being that I was using a universal carb. gasket on the autolite (now edelbrock) and it was a tiny bit too narrow allowing air to get sucked in. I could keep it running by goosing the throttle every second but if I let off of it, it would stumble and die. Have a friend start it up while you spray carb cleaner around the base of the carb, and around the intake manifold. If it evens out while you're spraying you have a vac leak. Also check any vac lines you have (brake booster, auto tranny modulator, vac. guage).
[addsig]

Yup sounds like a big vacuum leak assuming the carb is ok...I did buy a 650 holley once that had the wrong base gasket and didn't allow any fuel in at idle.It would run if you kept pumping the gas....Is the big vacuum port on the rear of the carb plugged or hooked to something?
[addsig]

rear of carb is plugged, intake manifold ports are all plugged. I will check my intake and carb base gasket today.

I'm assuming that the bigs carb does not have a choke plate on it? Once it starts to die cover the choke opening with your hand slowly and see if the idle stabilizes or picks up. If so then you know it is running lean........John

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2007-04-06 18:20, archoplites wrote:
Increase idle mixture, throttle plate opening, and check timing.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

I second that. Especially the secondary throttle plate screw. Mine died exactly like what you are saying. Opened up the secondary throttle plates, wa la.
[addsig]

Double check to make sure your fuel lines at the pump are connected to the proper in/out fittings.
[addsig]

It was the intake manifold gasket, finally found it after a carb backfire, blew out the smoke in the carb and saw it coming out under the intake. Thank god for that backfire or I would have been scratching my head for days.
Thanks for all your help, this is what this forum is all about, helping eachother.

thanks
rich