Engine turns over, but no compression?

[rusty959]

Quick background;
4 weeks ago my car developed a slight whirring noise at above 3k rpm. Within 40 miles or so of me getting home and another short trip or two to college it began to do it essentially at any rpm. Then, all of the sudden my clutch wouldn't fully release. Needless to say I parked it. On my opinion and the opinion of a couple local guys I thought it could be the throwout bearing and thus pulled the tranny. Since the PO let the clutch drag a bit destroying the syncros I also planned a tranny rebuild while it was out
Anyways, got the tranny out and the TOB was good. Replaced it and the fork anyways, along with some tranny components (1-4 syncros, 1/2 gears and hub, and seals) and went ahead and replaced the clutch with a xtd stage 4 with sprung hub and an act flywheel (got an amazing deal on it) since the act 2600 was basically shot.
Got everything back in last night and went for a test drive. The clutch still wouldn't fully disengage unless I pumped it, so I was starting to feel it might be master/slave issue. Unfortunately, I didn't make it all the way back with it running as I crept into the boost (not all out since I didn't have much on the clutch or tranny) but at a bit higher rpm it all of the sudden felt sluggish and then slightly backfired and cut out. My passenger said he saw a flash from underish the car (exhaust cuts out mid passenger compartment). Fortunately I was on my way back and coasted it home, but....
Here is the actual current problem:
Now it won't start back up. The engine does apparently turn over, but it sounds like the starter is just spinning nothing, ie I hear no compression. The cam gears do turn, and I am getting spark. We pulled a spark plug out and they said they couldn't feel any air moving, but we didn't check it with a gauge or anything else since it was 1 am I had just spent 5 hours reinstalling stuff. This kindof just perplexes me as the guys who were with me as it seems the engine is just spinning. Ive done quite a bit of research but I can't find anyone who has had a similar problem. It is a 6 bolt so I don't see it being crankwalk, especially since this doesn't seem like crankwalk symptoms from what ive seen. Any suggestions on what I should check? I greatly appreciate any help that can be given.

 

[ilco187]

well if it turns over and you have confirmed it does, and you have no compression its time for a valve job.

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

Confirm compression numbers, then go and set cylinder #1 to TDC, then check timing marks along the cam gears. If they are off, you jumped timing, and will most likely need to replace a lot of components.

 

[95'RS-T]

Check your timing marks and make sure they all line up before you pull the head. The same thing happened to My Gst, it ended up slipping time and bent all 8 intake valves.

 

[rusty959]

The last post also made me remember the inside of the timing belt looked slightly frayed...
It just seems like ive had 3 unrelated things happened at almost the same time which is slightly annoying.
So I guess next course of action is to throw a compression gauge on it, and if Im not making compression, check to make sure i didn't jump timing.
I just don't see what would have caused me to jump timing if I did...

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

A worn out auto tensioner?

 

[95'RS-T]

I just don't see what would have caused me to jump timing if I did...

Well when was the last time the timing belt was changed? Your tensioner could have went bad. You said the belt was frayed that means somethings not right, unless the belt is just that old. You might as well replace it.

 

[standard235]

My first 1g AWD had the lifters collapse and the followers came off. So no valves opening=No air to compress=no compression...

 

[rusty959]

The timing belt and tensioner were replaced about 5k miles ago by a previous owner, so I would say that whatever is causing the problem was either him doing it wrong or something unrelated. I guess ill probably be replacing it again now though since it is even more damaged than it was.
I was hoping to get over and do some more testing but unfortunately without a car its hard to get across town... :/