I'm definitely a novice, but just put a new cam in my 66 coupe and everything went well.The engine runs okay, but when I try to lower the idle speed it struggles a little which is tough to do without a tach. Here's the problem, whenever I try to put the car in gear the engine dies. It seems like the added resistance is just to much to handle....I would time it with a timing light but I don't know how, and i thought if I marked the distributor I wouldn't need to. anything that would help me out would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

 

sounds like timing(my 200cifalcon did the same thing)

pick up a light(cheap ones at harbor freight are $15, work great)[tachs are also cheap there]

hook up the wires that come with it -,+ to the battery and the clip to the #1 plug wire, the timing marks are on the balancer(aim the light at it)[set idle at 500RPM] if its a SBF V8set it to 10BTDS, I6 set it to 12