HI,
I want to buy a used engine for parts, and want to do a compression test with a regular gauge, to minimize my risk. I know its not perfect, but I don't want to buy without doing at least that.

The motor, and my original are both from automatic cars, where the starter bolts to the bellhousing. the motor I'm looking at does not have a transmission attached or available.

Is there an easy way to mount a starter to crank the engine over, perhaps using a manual starter? They look like they bolt to the engine through the bellhousing, if so a set of spacers on the bolt could recreate the bellhousing for the test.

Otherwise, I think I will have to remove and drag my bellhousing and starter with me. This seems like a pretty straight forward way of doing it. Any thoughts?

 

Easier to take the bellhousing I'm afraid. There is a lot of torque in a starter and you need a solid mount that won't self destruct and hurt you ...or someone else when it lets go

 

Bringing the bellhousing. Stinking little cooler line bracket on the bottom had to hang on there with one last 10mm bolt. The engine I'm looking at had a manual transmission, I hope the ring gear is in the same location depth wise.........


I realize now that the manual trans starter is many inches back from the block, and a couple washers would not take the place.

 

SO I got there "jdmenginedepot.com" and the engine had a manual trans and starter on it. DOH. They use a forklift battery and jumper cables to do compression tests. Decent little place. obviously buying a used "good engine" is a gamble, but the staff there were all nice and friendly at-least.