Help withplug wires burning up near exhaust!

[ubtripn]

I just replaced my spark plugs and they were sooty black and dry, the truck has HEI and just stopped running. It fired right up after I replaced the plugs but 2 plug wires had actually burned through and degraded the metal on the inside of the boots of the wire. How can I prevent this? I can't move the location of either. Do they have plug wires that can handle the heat? Can I insert some type of insulation between the plug wire and ramshorn or wrap the plug wire end in some kind of insulation?

Also, does the state of the plugs mean I am running too rich? If so, I have an Edlebrock 650 , the front two screws only adjust the idle mixture according to the manual so I don't know how else to adjust the overall mixture?

Thanks in advance for the help, I don't know what I would do without this board or the internet. Accept waste money learning the hard way.