trans for engine test?

If you're going to test run a motor on a stand and you'll be using an automatic in the car...exactly how do you set that up, for the stand? Would you need the whole trans bolted on or could you use just the flexplate and torque converter? Can a TC run on the stand without trans fluid? I'll be using a trans adapter between the 392hemi and the 727 if that makes any difference re; the starter (bolt the starter to the adapter and have no trans, just the TC???). I think I may have seen a pic of a gutted TF on an engine for a test.

Oh yeah, here it is...

so what are my options?
thanks much and sorry if this isn't in quite the right forum