96 1.6L 16 Valve
OK, I finally got the head gasket changed. Timing marks set perfect! Fired right up after I put it all back together! Drove it...half mile. Died, tried to crank it, slow cranking. Tore it down, teeth shredded of the belt at the CRANK. The cam is LOCKED tight!!! Took off valve cover, nothing there looks wrong. BENT VALVE? or what? and if it is, How did I bend it. Timing was set with keys facing eachother. I dont get it.

If you pull the cam off does it spin in the bearings?  That should allow you to check each vavle for movement.

I believe it's possible to put the head gasket on wrong, and in doing so, block the oilway to the head - end result, the cam seizes in the journals.

 :'( Yes that's exactly what happened, I knew that as soon as I read the headline

There is a hole in the front of the block and it's small, easy to miss, and the head
gasket has a hole that lines up with it, and yes the head gasket is easy to get in
wrong, you really need to look closely to see it, I wish they would print "TOP"
or "FRONT" on the gasket so this wouldn't happen to anyone else.

I'm sorry to hear about your problem, you may be able to salvage the head with
some installed cam bearings if a machine shop can do it, the cam may be salvageable
too.

Wild

My Felpro gasket did have FRONT stamped in it.

I believe it's possible to put the head gasket on wrong, and in doing so, block the oilway to the head - end result, the cam seizes in the journals.

Yep, that would be my guess too.

well yes, the front 2 cam bearings were ruined...but im sure the gasket was right. DAMN!! IDK!

well yes, the front 2 cam bearings were ruined...but im sure the gasket was right. DAMN!! IDK!

I guess the only way you'll know for sure is to pull the head and check the gasket.
It got starved for oil somehow.....so either the headgasket was put on wrong and it blocked the oil passage to the top of the head, or the oil pump went out, or something very unusual happend.
Unfortunately, there are no cam bearings....so it is not as simple as replacing the bearings.  In this situation, I haven't heard of anyone being able to salvage the head, but maybe there is something that can be done...but I don't know what.

no salvaging...theyre are ruined....bad!! Both cam and head....damnit!! Where is the best place to find new parts?

I wouldn't buy new, I would look for good used parts.  You could post a "wanted" ad in the classified section on here.

well i meant new to me...but yeah. Ill post an add soon!

sorry but I have too ask, you didn't use any rtv (gasket maker junk) on the surfaces or gasket did you? that stuff has ruined more engines  than it has ever helped IMO

NOPE, sure didnt

So you don't feel alone:

http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/technical-discussion-beginner-repair/fml-wasted-$$$-(head-issue-after-reinstall)/msg217366/#msg217366

In reference to his nice custom build here:

http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/build-diaries-how-to-diy/96-tracker-build/

But hey, he kept on going & has a sweet rig to show for it!