73 valiant runs good then randomly dies

First off, hello i'm new to these cars.
Now; I recently(couple months ago) acquired a 73 valiant. I know a little about cars and engines but I am in means an expert. This car came with a 225 and auto trans. On the engine is a clifford performance 6=8 carb/intake and dual headers package. It was on there when I purchased it and I know nothing about it or the history of it. I started by doing an oil change, replacing new wires, cap, and plugs, and redoing all old and corroded electrical connections.

So...This car has run really well for the last couple months that I've had it until two days ago. It randomly shut off at a stoplight. After a couple minutes of cranking with no start I finally got two people to help push me to the side when it started long enough to get to the side on its own then it died again. I thought about it and after looking around the ballast resistor was too hot to touch. I thought that was my problem so I bypassed it(jumper wires) and it started and ran perfect to the nearest auto parts store. I got a new resistor and the car ran perfect again. Then today same thing, and almost same spot on the road. I jumped out of the car and threw the jumper wires in again and it ran fine back to the house. Seems weird that the opposite conditions occurred when I thought the resistor went bad. Normally it would be start but not run with a bad resistor right?

So now I need help or suggestions as to why I am getting so much current that the resistor is burning up and is this my problem(electrical) or is something else more likely my problem? I do not know how to adjust the carb(but i'm sure I can figure it out easily) and have not checked timing or valve adjustment yet.