Weird Timing issue on my 318 V8 5.2L

I think your friend was referring to the outside of the harmonic balancer moving as it is 2 pieces with rubber mounted between them. The rubber can fall apart and move only the outside portion, once you check TDC you will know if that has happened. As far as plug wires not being in the correct place, they can be any where you want them as long as your rotor points at TDC on #1 cylinder and follow the firing order from there. Most books and pics will show #1 cylinder at the front toward the driver side, like the pic posted.