i know that my car has a bad earth, but would it cut out at low revs when it is running?

bump started the car and as long as i kept the revs up the engine runs, but take your foot off the accelerator and the engine dies?

is this an electrical problem or is it a mixture of problems?

Ditch

sounds like an air leake if it was running ok ?

in the short term you could just wind the throttle cable up a bit, so it idles higher. Could be a multitude of problems. How well tuned is your engine (not how powerful, but has it been on a rolling road etc?) Id start with checking emissions and voltages.

Why bump start it is battery flat?

If it has one you did remember to run an ignition live to the anti-run-on valve on the carb didn't you?

had to bump start it because even when attached to another car the engine barely turned over.

what anti run on valve????

ditch

What type of engine/carbs/injection are you using?, may help with diagnosis

i'm running a 2.1 pinto with twin dellorto 45's.

suppose i could chesk the live side of the battery circuit.

ditch