i think its the fact that the new belt is longer...
the actual part # on the belt itself matches the old and the ebay one?

yea bad idea with the timing belt on ebay thing...
i think paying double (retail price) would have been worth the trouble compared to what you are going thru now.
also, why do you think it was 1/2 price?
because you get what you pay for.

you should use the torque wrench on all bolts pertaining to the timing assembly. if that means grinding a $2 socket down to fit, than thats what you have to do.

i actually had a balancer shaft alignment sealing bolt "fall" out of the back of my block 3 days ago, so i fashioned a rubber plug for the hole to stop the oil from squirting out until my local dealer ordered the part. just put it on and the new ****er didnt fit right, so i had to re-thread the hole anyway. (shows how much the dealer knows)

either way i feel for ya, i havent tasted VTEC in 3 days and im starting to go nuts.

GET ANOTHER BELT

~boom