[JP Noonan]

I've done compression checks on motors sitting on the ground with a trans hooked up, but running the motor? You would need something for the motor mount bar to attack too, it would have to be off the ground enough to clear the exhaust AND give the hot cooling air a place to go (BTW DO NOT run a motor without an exhaust, it will melt the head exhaust port), a tach, a CHT gauge, and an oil pressure gauge. Hmmm, I'm thinking a test stand/engine dolly out of 2" square tube steel with wheels mounted on the bottom. In the form of a big "V" the two legs that are further apart go to the motor and the two that are closer together go to the trans.

Besides starting it, a good test is to check compression, leakdown, and crank endplay. The pressure tests tell you how the rings and valves seal and the endplay can show what condition the main bearings are in. I don't know if a hot running test would tell much more?