I repeated the glow plugs insert compression test with a drill spinning the crank. Until I twisted and broke off the socket adapter I was able to get about 50 psi. That was 3 or 4 rotations. Plan now is to clean up the old engine pan, pan spacer, oil tube, crank cover and bolt them loosely in place. Then tip up the engine, strap it down, put on the mounting plate, flywheel and original starter and give it a spin that way. If compression then checks out, I'll proceed with putting the newer engine in the JD. There's red RTV on the Yanmar engine oil pan, grey/black on the JD. Which RTV should I use? block to spacer block, crank cover, oil pan to spacer?
As a side note, I compared the fan/alt belts. Mine with 1800h is at least 2x more cracked than the replacement engine. No idea if that translates to the replacement engine being much newer.