My camero drove fine for about 30 miles...then it just started cutting off and it had a strange exhaust burned smell could it be the catalyic converter

What codes did you have?

Can you describe the smell? Inside or outside the truck (e.g. near the exhaust)? Probably a plugged catalytic converter, but let's make sure.

Could have an oil gasket leaking oil onto something hot.

Your first concern should be the engine. If it has suffered any internal damage. Try to identify the strange noise and its source. If the engine is still good, check your engine wiring harness carefully. Was the burning smell of an electrical nature? Some wires may have burned-insulation may be bubbled, burnt looking, wires exposed, plastic melted-look for things like that. There may be no trouble codes set from this event, but you should have an engine computer scan just to be sure. Any codes may indicate the problem.
If nothing obvious, you may need a mechanic to check it out. I would want a cylinder compression test done to gauge engine condition before attempted repairs-with 230K on an escort engine (remarkable!), you should want a good idea of the engine's present condition before proceeding.

Yes

Hi, I recommend you take the exhaust pipes loose from the exhaust manifolds to see if your exhaust is clogged. Start the truck--it will be loud. See if it will rev with the exhaust pipes loose. If yes, take the truck to a muffler shop to figure out if your converters or the muffler is clogged.
If it isn't a clogged exhaust, it may be that your timing belt/chain has jumped. We can check that next if the exhaust is open. It's a little harder to do, and your problem sounds more like a clog to me. I'll be here to answer your questions either way you decide to go.

Valve seal leaks will cause an engine to smoke on start until the oil burns off. If a head gasket were leaking it would be smoking constantly.

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doing it your self is guessing
autozone and others do the code reading for free
at this point I would be checking the wires and connections as that distance after installing would be about right for a connection not put together properly would fall apart or a harness wire would burn through on the exhaust

If you had to add oil, more then likely there an oil leak could be a gasket or oil seal, where ever the leak is at it's falling on the exhaust manifold and burning the oil, that's what you smell. Have it check cause low oil will damage you engine.

You need to have your engine flushed and cleaned out. One or more of your spark plugs aint firing. You need to replace them all to include the wires as well. If you dont get your engine flushed, you could blow your engine up.