KDY - you said you want to learn. Why don't you take the advice of several people and check the centerline. If it's dead nuts move to the converter. If not, put it where it belongs or advance it 2 degrees from recommended. THEN check your cranking compression. Then take it down the track.

Then you'll have learned something.

I assume you checked TDC of your damper against the piston true TDC location? How much spark are you running?