Motor dies after startup.

Well with a bad ballast you'll only have spark while cranking so it dies immediately so thats not your issue.

when it dies can you immediatly re-start it and do the same thing?

how did you wire the MSD? where is the big red and small red wire hooked up?

Was the carb sitting with an air cleaner on it and when driving it did it have one on it?

If you start it and jump on the throttle will it stay alive?

start it from under the hood and see of there is fuel dripping out of the booster (thing floating in venturi above the throttle blade