4ksq fuel problem

[Goethfaust at aol.com]

I'm having a problem, wondering if anyone has any ideas.

A few days ago I smelled something burning while driving the car.  I popped 
the hood and there seemed to be smoke coming from the manifold, the smell 
smelled like burnt barbecue, so I figured a rodent crawled up there and died. 
 the next day I got the car out, drove a few miles and it died.  Popped the 
hood and there was smoke coming out of the fuel distributer.  Removed the 
intake boot and the airflow sensor plate was scorching hot, I actually burned 
the tip of my finger touching it.  
I waited a minute, and it started right up, drove it straight home, where it 
died again.

any ideas?  The day before this happened I got home from a 1600 mile trip, if 
this means anything.

TIA

Greg Faust