i have a 78 chevrolet 4x4 scottsdale... i jus recently finished a 283 and dropped it inside it.. motor specs are .30 over 283 block 305 heads.... screw in rocker studs 1.5 ratio roller rockers, comp springs, forged crank stock style rods, aluminum flat tops, crane cam .500 int/exh advertised duration .302 int/exh 106 degree seperation, edelbrock performer intake msd 6al ignition, demon 750 carb... tranny is a built th350 with a 9 inch 2800 rpm converter... 3.73 gears with 33 inch tires... Now on to the problem.. it starts and idles fine but dies in gear and when it doesnt die it has 0 power... barely pulls out of its own tracks... any suggestions to what it might be????

 

Fuel supply/pressure, and or...
Timing, Distributor problem.

You sure you got the Cam timed right ?

 

i believe i goofed up in the timing set.. jus noticed today i put a timing set in that was for a 350 and i believe there's a difference in the crank degree's... thanks for the suggestion i never thought about fuel pressure... just using the stock cam driven pump, but i will def check the pressure tomorrow... i tried 2 different distributors today and no luck

 

Sounds like you're going to be spinning your Engine up pretty fast plus the big Carb, might think about using an Electric Pump. Removing the Mechanical Pump will add fractional HP. They make a little plate to cover the hole. Keep in mind that Electrics push better than they pull.

Distributor sounds ok for now, but it depends on how many RPM's you're going to turn.
What does Crane say about that ?

Don't have the part numbers right in front of me, but I believe there is a difference in the Timing Sets. I really think this is your problem.

PS:
You did get it balanced....right !