Last time I tried to use known working IDE drives from newer PBs in my 150s I was getting SadMacs. I had a bootable floppy made up and they would boot from the floppy with the original HD or no HD in but as soon as I stuck any other HD in they got pissy.

And ben, installing an HD into PBs like the 140, 150, 160, etc is not at all hard so don't get stressed about it.