You might check and make sure you are getting proper oil pressure to the vtec oil line also check and make sure your valves are not mushroomed or bent. also did you make sur eyou did TDC on the intake side then adjust then do exhaust side TDC you might just go back and recheck TDC on intake and exhuast TDC with the proper adjustments also get spec for 98 cause manuals for mine which were .008 and .010 i believe i adjust mine to .02 and .025 cant remember exact but believe that was correct.