OK... did some more work...

Using the positive piston stop method, I did find that my balancer's TDC mark is RIGHT ON .. exactly.

So, then someone on another forum said that I should check the valve overlap at TDC at piston #1, and that if anything, the intake valve should be opening just a tad ahead of the exhaust valve. Well, it turns out the exhaust valve is open about .063" more than the intake valve at TDC. Apparently, this is an indicator of cam timing being retarded (might explain why I had to dial my ignition timing up to 30 degrees to get it to sorta run?)

Also, I was told to do a compression test on all cylinders, as the compression can be an indicator of cam timing being off...
compression readings were as follows:

Going around the engine from cylinder #1, by cylinder #

Drivers side, front of engine to back of engine:
cylinder:
1: 92psi
3: 92psi
5: 75psi
7: 80 psi

passenger side, front to back:
2: 90psi
4: 85psi
6: 100 psi
8: 70 psi

Looking more and more like my cam timing is off... .yeah?