With the van going to the painters tomorrow my attentions will turn to cleaning up any parts I have stripped and the engine. My gearbox and engine are out of the van, is it plausible to bolt them together adjust the valves and do a cold compression test? Would it give a worthwhile indication of the general condition of the engine? There's currently no oil in it, would it be ok to just bung in all the half full top ups I've got left over from the past few cars I've had? just for turning it over purposes to do the test. I only drove it around the industrial estate before it got laid up for resto, there wasn't any excessive smoke and it started on the button hot or cold.
I've done the same on my beetles engine using a bay bellhousing and starter. Its not gonna be spinning at 4000 revs on the starter, so as long as the bearing surfaces have something it coating them it'll be OK.
Yep- totally fine. As long as it's got oil in, it doesn't need much else Make sure the starter's up to snuff though or you'll end up worrying about low compression for no good reason.
