[desertmike1]

Russ,
Your on the right track!

If the truck sat for nine years accouple differant things can happen, first of all the rubber gaskets and seals get hard and loose the ability to seal properly, such as the Oring style valve seals, front and rear main seals, valve cover gaskets etc.

Secondly, all of the cast iron, and steel parts begin to rust such as cylinder walls, valves, crankshafts, camshafts etc.
It's always a good idea to borascope the inside of an engine thats been sitting for long periods before start-up, and prelube the journals and cylinders.
One area of huge concern is the cylinder walls, if they rusted and you start the engine, bad things can happen like scoring, and possible breakage of piston rings. (ouch)

When your buddy does his compression test you should be able to identify problems in these areas if they really exist?
I would difinitly do all the compression testing work first. The static test will tell you if you have broken rings or badly pitted valves.
The cranking (dynamic) test will tell you if the rings have the ability to pump the cylinders up to about 100-150 psi.

Once you clear the compression test use a valve spring compressor from auto zone's tool loan program, this should save you about fifty bucks that can be used for Large Quintities of "Liquid Wrench"

If you get as far as the valve seal replacement, be carefull not to allow a valve to drop into the cylinder.

Let us all know how things pan out?

-Mike