rebuilt 305 problems, PLEASE HELP!!!

I just rebuilt my 305 88 chevy smallblock and I'm having some trouble getting it running now that I've reinstalled it into the car. I have replaced an crankshaft, connecting rods, piston and new rings, and gaskets and switched to an Edelbrock Performer Plus Camshaft #2102 and Hydraulic Lifters opposed to the stock Hydraulic Roller Lifters and cam. Also, from that I had to replace the Pushrods. While I was rebuilding the engine my father advised me to rid the engine of the emission control. So I removed only the air pump and the AIR pipe that used to run to the catalytic convertor, which had already burned itself off. I also replaced my distributor cap and rotor with a Borg-Warner. I have also rebuilt my carburetor and capped the exhaust recirculation holes in the exhaust manifolds and disabled the system. The spark plugs and wireset were also replaced, as well as the starter and battery. The catalytic convertor has been removed. After all of this work on my engine I cannot get the car to run correctly. I cannot get the timing right for one. I also am having some trouble remembering where the heater hose ran other than inside the car, because there is an extra hose that comes off the side before running into the car. My timing problem is as follows, to start the car I must advance the timing quite a bit, and to keep it idling I must retard it back to normal position. But every time I hit the acclerator it stutters and most of the time dies. Also there is a knock coming from the engine and I can't seem to determine where at. I don't believe it could be in the block it sounds like it's coming from somewhere in the heads. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

As far as the timing goes.... Have disconnected the EST wire when you attempt to set the timing? If you don't the computer will try and compensate for every adjustment as you make it.

It's a brown with black stripe wire, located underhood on the passenger side fender. This weatherpack connector that must be disconnected to set the timing. Then must be re-hooked up to allow the computer to control the timing once you're done.

A mechanic came and looked at my car the other day and told me he said that my car sounded like it was running on 6 or 7 cylinders. He said I've probably got compression problems or I may not be getting spark. That may be possible I had two spark plug wires get caught in the valve covers when I installed them but the wires have no cuts. He also told me that I'm not getting enough fuel. I just rebuilt the carb, he recommended getting a reman or used engine. Any other suggestions?