Engine turns over but won't fire

[COBALT]

I just replaced my manifold, and finished putting everything back on the engine. I marked where the distributor was, and put it back EXACTLY where it was. Plugs are in good shape, and I got new plug wires. The starter is cranking the engine but it won't fire. Plug wires are set in the distributor according to their firing order starting at #1 terminal: 18436572

Here's what I've done:

1. Thought I might have accidentally turned the dist. 90 degrees while it was on the bench, so I pulled it, turned it 90 and put it back in. Then the engine wouldn't even turn over. It started to, but then hung like it was fighting compression.

2. I pulled the distrubutor, and I turned it back to where it was to begin with, and starting rotating the distrubutor COUNTER-CLOCKWISE and I start getting loud popping out the tailpipe.

3. I turn it back to my starting position, and turn it CLOCKWISE and nothing. I get pufs of fuel/air out of the carburetor.

Was I on to something when I turned it 90 to begin with, or am I close now??? I don't get it. I've checked everything 1000 times, and I put everything back to where it was...