I put it into gear and it dies.

Good for you. You need to make it what you want or you'll never be happy. I was jes messin anyway.

Double check the tune on it. Timing, points dwell if it's got points, check the dwell anyway if it's electronic. There IS a spec. Put a vacuum gauge on it and make sure it's got a good signal. Smell the exhaust and see if it smells unduly rich. If you put the tools to it and pay attention, it'll tell you what's up.
yeah, when I go get the timing light tomorrow, I will pick up a vacuum gauge too.
the plugs need to be cleaned off so I can accurately read them. they were all sooty when I pulled them out. (that is from me pumping the **** out of it in order to get it started and dumping gas down the carb to make it start quicker when it was super cold out.)