Thank you.. I was scratching my head at this.

I've worked on all of 1 VVT engines.

That said - are those the injector ground straps that are under the bolt for the fuel rail? The ones that have insulated plastic spacers underneath them? Is that the stock location?

Have you checked the timing wheel on the crank pulley? It is really easy to install it backwards.

Yes that is what you are seeing. That is the factory location, as it was on my 99 motor. The plastic spacers are present... But. The bolts go from the fuel rail to the head. I understand what you are asking. But yes there is continuity between the grounds and the motor.

Bringing this back from the dead! So it turned out that spark, fuel, and timing were all right.

The machine shop screwed up big time. Long story short, I had to let my car sit till I could find somewhere heated to work on it. Said the hell with it, pulled the motor. When I pulled the pan there was gross muddy crap at the bottom of the oilpan. BLASTING MEDIA. Somewhere along the lines, machineshop has too many people working on one project, someone missed the whole (flush and clean oil passages) part of my invoice. Ruined my CP pistons and bearings. Luckily it didn't run, or it would have ruined my crank and rods.

The owner of the shop squared up with me, covered the pistons (biggest expense) since he didn't assemble it he hardly wanted to cover the pistons. Which I get but sucks.

Car has 150 miles on break-in and no issues.