Before we started ganking my engine out after we found the bedplate leak last weekend, we let her idle for a few minutes to see how things ran. While she was idleing, I noticed some minimal smoke out the exhaust. It was the typical bluish-white burned oil smoke, but the "cloud" was less than a foot out before it dissapated.

Can I do a compression test by turning the crank over manually with the engine out? If so, what kind of numbers should I expect to see from a brand new 10.5:1CR motor that's only been idled for about 5 minutes? Same for a leak down.

When we tried to install the pistons the first time, I kinda muched the oil rings on cylinder #1. When they lay on a flat surface, they would curl up towards the gap ends. We went ahead and installed them anyway :wary (my less than genious call) They went in just fine (took some finesse), but if I do a compression test and the numbers vary in that cylider, I think I should change them out.

I don't want to have all my friends helping me by slaving away in 110+ weather only to have Daisy smoking like a chimney when we're done.

She didn't smoke before except for under the wheel wells from the head gasket leak baking on the block. Any help is greatly appreciated as always. TIA! :)

where's the frickin bump cop when you need him? :P

a compression test will mean pretty much nothing until the rings are properly seated. 5 minutes of idling will probably yeild some weird/low numbers. give it 500ish miles and your compression test will be more accurate.