Ok, I've got an '86 NA engine and it is having issues. It starts and will run for a bit, but it dies pretty quick, and it blows a lot of smoke while it does run. So says the person I got the engine from, I have yet to try to start it. It's currently not in a car cause I'm still trying to find some stuff to get it in, but I want to test the engine, so that I can change the seals now, before I put it in and have to deal with pulling it again and such.

I know how to do the good 'ol compression test thing, but you have to have it running for that. I read on a site a while back (which I now can't seem to find) that you can somehow test the apex seals by unbolting the exhaust manifold and listening to the sounds it makes. Anyone want to fill me in on how you do this? Or any other ways/things that I can test WITHOUT actually starting the engine? Thanks.