Safety Sam Says: Put the friggin' trans in.
HOWEVER, If the engine is out of the car, and you are NOT a dumbass, engines get started and run at 12-1500 RPM no-load every day. Get a pallet and build it up to the engine mounts or the pan rail with 2-bys. Make sure it's bolted or banded down securely. Or one of the STURDY engine storage racks. Hook up the starter and fuel, and hit it. Mount a small (1 gal) fuel tank up high and gravity feed the carb. If it's EFI, you'll need a pump. I've done it at home many times.