My daughter got her 98 civic dx hot last week. Let it cool, got it home. Found water pump leaking. Tore down changed pump, put back together. Timing must have been off because wouldn't start. (Ran before changing pump) Tore down again to adjust timing belt, now cam sprocket is very tight even with timing belt off. Was free when I was tensioning belt first time. Any ideas why top end would bind?

 

With the belt off, can you put a wrench on the cam bolt and rotate the cam manually? If not, your cam is most likely seized. Did it have good oil pressure before? Also, make sure that nothing has been dropped into the valve train that could get stuck in there and cause it to bind.

 

Yes can rotate cam but very stiff. Was free before. Engine never ran after changing water pump. So don't see how it could be oil pressure problem. Can't find anything in valve train.

 

Pull the cam caps and look for signs of scarring. Also re-torque the bolts. It has to be something with the cam journals.

 

When you rotate the cam it feels like kicking over a motorcycle resistance then it cranks like 1/4 turn feels like the rockers are loaded against the cam lobes.

 

That's how it is supposed to feel. It's the cam lobes opening the valves.