just finished a cam swap, got everything all buttoned up. when i got to start it, it will start, and revs shoot to the moon with the brown distributor wire plugged in, if i unplug it, it starts, goes really rough, but it dies before theres enough time to time it precisely no vaccum leaks, what else could it be?

 

sounds like your timing may be too far off...Re-stab the distributor. Once you unplug the brown wire, that takes the computer control out of the equation. The it is running off of true timing. I would put the motor at TDC again, and drop the distributor again, it sounds like you have it a tooth off.

 

Not another TOOTH OFF debate... I'd say turn the distributor a little each way, then fire it up, being a "tooth off" would mean you would just have to turn the distributor that much farther to get the timing right. I too think it's timing, or vacuum, but you say you have no vacuum leaks.. I'd double check.

 

a tooth off