After 2 years finally getting to the engine for my 66 dart. It's out of the car and prior owner claims it was rebuilt. It looks like it but before putting it in I'd like to make sure it's good. I've been advised to do a leakdown test and compression test. I haven't found the procedures on this site, but I'm sure they gotta be here.
Any other recommendations on things to look at before I drop this thing in?
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A leak down test and wet and dry compression test, involve warming the engine up and using a compression tester/gauge along with a remote starter switch to check the compression... if any numbers are way lower then the others, you do it again with some oil squirted in the cylinder.... if one is low after that , you have to run the affected piston up to TDC (engine still warm), both valves shut (or remove the rocker shaft)... and using your shop compressor, putting air in the piston and watching the guage to see if it's leaking... and also listening to see where it might be leaking... (hissing from the carb...intake valve, hissing from the tailpipe- exhaust valve leak... bubbles in the radiator, hissing in the engine but not out the other areas... you got trouble....)

This is where that Petersen's guide that Dan recommends will come in handy...along with an engine test stand... (got welder?)

-D.Idiot

You can spend a lot of time trying to determine if a "unknown history" engine is good or not.
In the end, (for me) it comes down to 2 basic approaches:

1) Take the engine apart and re-rebuild it, this give you a chance to clean, measure and retorque everything... you will then have something you know about.

2) Do some basic checks, then install the engine and start it. Once running, you can do additional tests if needed.

The basic checks include putting some oil in each cylinder and turning the engine over with a wrench, with-out and with the plugs in.
Checking the valve lash and the cam's phasing. (at the rocker arms, at overlap)
There is not much more you can do until the engine fires.
DD

Thanks for the tips! I'm thinking I'll do the simple tests first, at least to make sure nothings locked up. We're so close to getting this thing put back on the street I hate the idea of tearing it apart at this point. But then I run the risk of something happening later. Jeez, sounds like my wife buying a pair of shoes!
I'll let you know how it ends up, thanks again.