Is the crank sprocket trigger plate flipped backwards? Not sure if it would rub anything.
Can you locate where the sound is coming from exactly?

Is your trigger plate on backwards? Hitting the crank sensor.

Now that someone else said it, its definitely on backwards.

Well, the odd thing is if I put that trigger plate on backward, the timing notch would be way out of place (note the attached photo above). And I don't think it would start (crash some valves maybe if I rotated it to where I think it should have been (being that it was on backward). And..I actually tried it the other way to make sure it couldn't go on that way. It couldn't. But I agree, the sound sure makes me think of that plate.
Thanks for that direction. I will double-check it, that's for sure after hearing from you guys.
Any other ideas?

The trigger plate looks VERY close to hitting the B belt tensioner pulley lip. Do you have the correct B belt tensioner pulley (https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/timing-belt-went-bye-bye-question.224147/#post-50336372)? 96-97 used a different one.

Here's the one on my 99 GST. The pulley lip is nowhere close to the trigger plate.

And luv2rallye wins the prize! That is EXACTLY what is scraping! I haven't even put the covers back on because I wanted to post the SOLUTION and luv2rallye beat me to it while I was figuring it out!
With NO music or noise in the garage, I slowing turned the crank by hand and each time the trigger plate/tone ring came around to the balance shaft tensioner pulley (that was overlapping like it should NOT), I heard a slight tick. It was interfering with it.
The new balance shaft tensioner pulley I bought was TOO BIG. I ended up putting the old tensioner back on that does not overlap the trigger plate (tone ring). With a gap, there is interference.
I'll let the photos speak for themselves so we'll all be smarter. I want to be complete in my answer, so here they are.
Thanks, guys!
Scott

Where did you get that tensioner? Is it part of a kit?

That's why you never listen Korean girl pop while doing timing.

I see the lip on the tensioner is larger, but looking at the position of the tensioner pulley, it doesn't look like it's adjusted properly. First pic of post #6, you can see the balancer belt is straight.

Edit: Never mind. I see the other end of the belt.

You may have gotten a pre 97 pulley where its lip goes on the inside (instead of the outside like you have installed, note that 97-99 lip does go on the outside but with a different pulley). Or you may have just gotten a badly designed aftermarket one which are common (they often sell same one for all years). I've even found different ones from the dealer in the wrong boxes which messed me up (but for a different reason than yours).

As a side note do not run your engine with the crankshaft pulley missing unless you want a jumped timing belt, yes the idler pulley can hold it in place but I have seen them jump off of the crankshaft with that pulley missing like that.

Motomattx, I see your point running without the pulley. Thanks for the tip.

I have a 1995 Eagle Talon 2.0L DOHC turbo with 60,000 original miles. I just had a new timing belt installed along with water pump, pulleys and all new belts. I noticed a noise in the engine area and after a few days, I drove back to garage to see if my mechanic could find the problem. When I arrived he checked under the hood and said your problem is solved. The air compressor for my A/C had seized up and burned the belt off. Now I have no noise and no A/C. I now have developed a noise at start-up that only last for about 15 sec and then goes away, I don't know what it is at this time.