Well...seeing as its out of the car, there is no real way you can do a compression test. It needs to spin at cranking revs to get a proper reading. FWIW a fresh motor is about 150psi, and using a wrench on the pulley bolt is a little far from ideal.
Hence the leak down test, which i know pretty much how to do. What i wasnt exactly sure of was if it can be done with the manifolds off. I know you put each cylinder at TDC with the tester plug in (closes off the cylinder completely) then pump air in. Listen for air at either side (intake then exhaust) and dipstick. Why im also asking is because some say to pop the radiator cap off and look at the coolant to see if the head gasket is holding (bubbles)...
From anyone who has done one before or knows, is it possible to get a good reading with the motor out, and how do i get around the coolant issue?
edit/ I suppose i can just listen for leaks up the coolant passages the same as you would in the intake and exhaust (use a hose...one end in ear / the other in the area you are interested in) or i could hook up some long hoses to the coolant intake / outlet and throw em in a bucket of water and watch for bubbles...as for the motor not spinning, ill hook up a flywheel and put a flywheel lock on it to stop the motor spinning.