Ok so i finally got the engine on my 72 to start up but once its going i need to Revv the engine to keep it going, if i just hold the gas in place or dont touch it, the car will stall in about 15 to 20 seconds, it is also blowing a lot of smoke out of the exhaust but that may be due to the car not running in 7 or so years and has been sitting for most its life, i have replaced most of the ignition system, the fuel pump and fuel lines i also did a basic cleaning of the carburator any help would be appreciated.

 

Could have bad valve seals/guides, broken rings etc since it's been sitting so long. Could be the carburetor needs a major tune up as well. What do the plugs look like? That'll tell you a lot

 

the carb is clean and all the gaskets i have come across have been in good shape, other than the valve cover, i was thinking it might be the float in the carb, also would a valve missing a rocker arm and push rod effect the engine greatly?

 

You bet it would affect it. Don't run the engine anymore, either. If you plan on running that engine at all, at least get a rocker and pushrod in there and torqued down properly. Otherwise, it may never run again.

Edit: That missing rocker and pushrod could be part of the problem. Also, one or more headgaskets may be blown by now. And if the heads haven't been gone through in the last 15 or so years, they may not have new hardened valve seats. If you run unleaded without hardened seats, they break off and lots of smoke comes out the tailpipes.

 

Update:

I replaced the floats and everything in the carburater, i re tapped the threads on the valve lifter and reseated the rocker arms and push rods. i flushed the transmission fluid, i can now get the car to idle after about 15 starts of the engine and can get it to move, the only thing is it jumps into gear and sometimes stalls out when it goes into reverse, im thinking its just that the brakes arent holding right when i shift it into gear, its unfortunately an automatic, im about 1/2 way done with the body work and its starting to look decent, any suggestions on websites to get a new convertible top, ford wont sell any for models before 1980

 

First - find a local shop that installs tops and make them a proposition - you buy the top from a mail order store and they install it. You will get a better top from the aftermarket than an uphostery shop can make or buy. If they balk - walk away and find another shop. Putting on a top is not easy.
On a more somber note, Ford got out of the 'classic' car part business several years back. Their inventory was sold off and they now license the name.
Jim