Help understanding my odd timing?!?!

Another thing too, I'm assuming your checking the timing by the timing marks on the crank simply because I know of no other way (I'm 16 1/2 so, no big surprise) ensure that the 0 mark on the crank is indeed TDC for #1 cylinder. This can be acheived one of two ways.

Method 1. Remove number one cylinder's spark plug and place a finger in the whole trying to acheive the best possible seal. Now either turn the engine by hand if you can, if not disconnect the secondary wire which runs from the coil to the center of the distributor and have an assistant "bump" the ignition. If no assistant is available, it is much easier to turn an engine by hand when all the other spark plugs are removed, this way no other cylinders create compression thus making the engine easier to turn. With your finger in the spark plug whole, try to feel for the moment when the cylinder no longer developes pressure on your finger, remember to get the best possible seal. The moment in rotation at which you lose pressure, you've found #1's TDC. Check to make sure the 0 on the plate near the crank lines up with the timing mark on the crank. If not there's your problem.

Method 2. This is exactly the same procedure as number one, only you are replacing you finger with the end of a coat hanger that's been bent relatively straight. Make sure that at some point in the engines rotation the end of the coat hanger makes contact with the piston, for the coat hanger will cease to move up and out of the spark plug whole upon TDC. I personally do not recomend this method because common sense says that the coat hanger might damage something inside the combustion chamber. You can however substitute the coat hanger with a stiff insulated wire. And BTW, this method is most easily accomplished by hand turning the engine.

Good luck!