[TECH] Serious KA help needed! Will not start

KA24DE won't start. Need help and am pretty much lost. Will try to describe my issue to the best of my ability.

89 S13, 95 KA, DOHC S13 harness.
Just dropped the engine in after popping my last KA (was DOHC). Tore it down and put a new headgasket and studs in, but planned on staying NA for the time being.

When reassembling the timing components, I made sure to keep mechanical timing in check. Took my time, and am relatively positive that it is correct. Motor was at TDC when installing the S13 distributor, and stabbed it with the rotor on cyl 1.

The harness is the same one I've been using, everything worked fine.

Tried starting the car, starter turns just fine (although I had to connect a separate battery for the hot wire and signal wire, different issue for a different day) CAR WILL NOT MAKE A SINGLE ATTEMPT TO FIRE. Just starter turning. No sign of ignition whatsoever, other than some pops coming from the exhaust, and it doesn't sound like the pops when an engine is about to start. Checked plugs, has spark. I checked the gap before installing. Removed fuel rail. Injectors are spraying. Checked compression. 160-170 psi all around.

Sprayed some ether in the intake and I got like one decent pop, once. Spraying more seems to not do much, I only got it to pop once. Header was a little bit warmer than the ambient temp after this.

Upon removing the plugs, they seem a bit wet and smell like fuel.

Cap, rotor, plugs, and wires are all new or low miles.

I have some ideas, but nothing serious is coming to mind. -The battery is old, but never gave me problems unless I let the car sit for a while. Right now it is enough to turn the lights on. There is spark, but someone told me it may not be strong enough.
-I happened to pop the alternator fuse when doing my rig on the starter, accidentally grounded a hot wire. This is because I was powering the signal wire with the alternators hot wire and fucked up. When this happened I also noticed I killed my cluster and climate control lights. Did I kill my TCU? Where is the fuse for these guys if not?

Ignition timing is not perfect, and battery power may not be superb, but the car doesn't even try to start. It is like I have the coil disconnected or fuel pump relay pulled. With everything I mentioned, I would think the car would at least run like shit. I want to try it with a brand new battery, but my hopes are low. If you need any additional info, let me know, but if you can help me out, I will be eternally grateful. This whole mishap caused me to waste a few hundred bucks preparing for a drift event that I ended up not being able to run because I thought my motor was going to be the least of my troubles.

TL;DR, has spark, fuel, compression, and I am confident it is timed. Will not even give me a put. Starter turns motor but no combustion. I also fucked my cluster lights.