Pull your spark plugs, crank the engine with short bumps on the starter and a finger inserted in the #1 hole, when the # 1 cyl is blowing air out or is on compression for sure. Then you can take a small brazing rod (brass) and insert it into the plug hole, then turn the engine by hand (not with the starter) and feel it come up to TDC (top dead center) when it is all the way up , check your timing mark to see if it is on TDC, then check your rotor and see if it is coming up on # 1 plug wire nipple. Also check the rotation of the rotor and see that all plugs from # 1 are in the proper firing order sequence. That's all there is to it, Then you can set the engine with a timing light to the proper specs. This just lets you know you are in the right spot to get ign when you need it. Also since you seem to be getting fire on intake as well as exaust strokes, check the inside of the dist cap for cracks or carbon tracks indicating a non visible crack. This will cause a cross fire condition and drive you nuts. If the dist rotor is way off then it must be pulled, rotated so that the rotor is coming up on # 1. Remember if the gear has a twist to it it will rotate on it's way in when re installing it, what you want is for the rotor where you want it when the dist is firmly seated.
Dennis