Trying to start rebuilt engine, spitting through carb

^^THIS^^ AND IF YOU DON'T CHECK THE TIMING WITH A LIGHT you are wasting your time.

You likely have breaker points ignition. THERE IS NO REASON you cannot STATIC TIME the engine and have it within just a very small error of correct timing

(Static timing is how VW Beatles were set "in the day.")

Set up the dist as you did, then adjust the engine so the timing marks are NOT on TDC but rather "on the timing marks" where you want timing, be it 5 BTC or wherever.

Now, rotate the distributor body "retard" until the points are closed. Use a light meter or other means to indicated ELECTRICAL points break. "With practice," you can even use the coil wire and a gap or neon lamp and see when the spark happens

Now slowly advance the distributor body until the points just open. This should be quite close, within a couple degrees WHEN DONE correctly