here is where I will start, I finally got my dream Miata of if Copart drove her hard for a year and realized that I need a head gasket. Disclaimer before I learned this issue I swapped my 96 to megasquirt and a ita sensor. Ran great weeks later we got hit with super hot temps and the head gasket issue went from not existent to over heat in 5 min, knowing that it needed to replace it after A leak down. So after a head resurface, pressure test, begi coolant re route and a radiator I'm stuck with my lil project not starting. Can anyone help me. Timing is right, all sensors and connectors are plugged in and I replaced all parts that needed it. Arp studs, oemgasket, new tstat, gaskets, valve job, water pump.. and I can't turn her (well she turns but won't star, sounds like it's about to start but gives up) Even went back to stock ecu and only code I get from a odb2 scanner is if for maf witch I will swap back out tomorrow. Help please I'm out of options and I legit I can't pay to tow her to a dealer =\

 

I would suspect cam timing is off. show us pictures; at top dead center, the crank pulley and cam gears. multiple pictures. we need to see all of the marks.

Lets start here.

 

Sounds like timing is off.

 

did you both plug the coil pack wires into the right coil packs AND put the plug wires onto the right coil packs? It doesnt really matter how you plug the packs into the cars wiring, just that you have the right plug wires on them.