This is based on the 94-95 with the sensor in the distributor, but the signal should be the same on the 96-97 accord. The sensor was moved to the crank on the 96/97.

The cylinder position sensor puts out four signals for every half turn of the crankshaft. It sends a signal to the ECU every time each piston gets to the top of the cylinder.

When you are at TDC, are the lobes of the camshaft on the short side on the rocker arms on cylinder 1? In other words, are both rocker arms not pushing on the valves for cylinder 1?

 

Right when #1 cylinder is at TDC both the exhaust and intake cam lobes for cylinder #1 are almost straight up.

 

Here some videos I made to show the problem.

MVI_2701.mp4 video by 666Sticks666 - Photobucket

MVI_2700.mp4 video by 666Sticks666 - Photobucket

 

just something else to check. have a buddy that did a h22 swap, everything was right, fuel and spark, turns out the valve clearances were way too tight and not allowing the engine to turn over.

check your valve clearances, see if they are in spec

 

I see that you had the socket extension in #1. You said that both lobes were pointing up when #1 was at TDC.

Now if you turn the engine by hand where the marks are lined up on the cam sprocket, but the arrow is pointing down, then what lobes are pointing up and down? The exhaust lobes should be pointing down. Intake lobes up.

If you have a compression tester, I would test the compression one each cylinder.

 

I will check out the lobes with the arrows down tomorrow.

I don't have a compression tester, but I leak down tested it and it had less than 10% leakage in every cylinder.

 

I'm just wondering if the intake and exhaust camshafts were somehow switched.

 

Thank you for your continued help PAhonda but I figured out my issue.

So here is how my day went today:

Looked at a wiring diagram today and noticed that my distributors wires were not matched like a guy had online. I switch them and it fired right up.

When it fired up it sounded awful and I noticed my oil pressure gauge read zero. I immediately shut it off and started cursing.

Here is the result:

 

wht the heck is that?

 

That is all the aluminum I pulled out of the oil pan.