I am going to pick up a jspec and was wondering how to pick out a good one. I look through the exhust ports and see if all the seels are there, what then? How do I preform a compression test when the engine is out of the car?

 

As most jspecs still have the turbo, you wont be able to see the seals. You can check compression with a 19mm socket/ratchet and a 13/16" socket to remove the plugs. Crank it over clockwise with the socket and listen for one whoosh of air per rotor per crank. That's it, about all you cn do without a tranny and starter and battery(the other way to check compression out of a car).