Well here's the story. Couple weeks ago, while driving my car in boost, (stock bottom end d16a6, turboedit basmeap, 450cc's, safc) I heard 2 very loud bangs high in the rpm range while getting on it and the car shut off. I pushed it home, and pulled the head off to find what I thought were bent valves. They turned out to be held open by the camshaft which I forgot to take out of the rocker assembly. DUHHR. I got a new headgasket, and got a new a6 head on. Put it on, and the thing won't start. I have fuel and spark and everyonce in a while while i was trying to crank it, it would backfire and pop. It sounded like it was going to start up a few times, and came very close, but didn't. Back in the recesses of my mind I have a fear I blew my motor. Now, when i pushed down on the pistons the motor rotated, when I crank it over there is no knocking or clunking, and the ports and downpipe are filled only with carbon...no oil. SO everything looks good, but I still worry I might have broken ring lands or something. The thing is when i try to start it, there is no hissing from like the oil dipstick or fill area or pcv valve. And also when I heard the 2 loud bangs the oil dipstick stayed toally stationary and didn't go flying. Now if I did that wouldn't at least the other cylinders fire and try to start up? How can I tell if i did this? My only other idea is that since I am running a exospeed sr909 camsheft (272/258 dur 400/392 lift) and have not yet lashed the valves since replacing the head. Maybe the valves are being held open and I am losing compression that way. The timing is fine. The next order of buisiness it to lash the valves and do a compression check. Anyone have any ideas?