First Start in 52 Years! | Barn Find Austin A30 Classic Car Auction Buy

Here we go again....will our barn find 1954 Austin A30 start this time?!!
Regular viewers will know all about this plucky little Baby Austin, which had been languishing in a Norfolk shed since 1971. In previous videos, we've shown you around this timewarp car, cleaned it (if you can call it that!), discovered that most of the electrics still work and freed up the engine. In the last video, we completely failed to get it started and felt a bit deflated....
HOWEVER, buoyed on by the support and ideas we received in the previous comments, we decided to have another go at breathing life into our vintage vehicle. There was nothing to lose, anyway (apart from our sanity!), as the parts needed to strip the head would take a few days to arrive.
So, in the middle of a cold snap, and fuelled by coffee, Elton spent a few nights in the UK Barn Finds workshop, tapping and levering away. Large quantities of WD40, penetrant oil, diesel, ATF followed, accompanied by varying levels of grunting and cursing.
Was it worth the effort?
Well, it's always worth TRYING to fix an old car, even if you don't succeed, but we were really hoping to have a happy ending to our first year of producing UK Barn Finds videos on KZbin.
00:00 Intro
02:05 Looking At Our Cut Away A-Series Engine
06:23 Taking The Rocker Cover Off
07:29 Hammer Time!
12:40 Some Success With The Valves
14:43 Using The Borescope
21:05 The Rope Method
25:20 The Valves Are Free!
27:35 The First Start
34:14 Next Steps?
We hope you enjoy this episode. We really enjoyed making this one.
We are UK Barn Finds. Please subscribe, like, share, comment and do all the things that help us to bring you content like this. Every little thing you do genuinely makes a difference here on KZbin. We are not a sponsored channel. We are just a couple who like old cars and motorbikes.
Need to speak to us? It may be that we can film your barn finds, help sell your old cars and motorbikes, or even buy them ourselves. Drop us a line on [e-mail] or via our website contact form on ukbarnfinds.com/
Thanks for watching!
UK Barn Finds® is a UK registered trademark.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Wow! This video seems to have put a smile on a lot of faces. We are LOVING the comments. Thank you so much! For those of you new to the channel, or just this car, here are links to the previous 1954 Austin A30 episodes: 1. We Buy A Time Warp Austin A30 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3XWfI17fa6WiJI 2. First Wash in 52 Years - kzbin.info/www/bejne/lanVoIWEo5ijhqc 3. Amazing Austin A30 Progress Update! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/faLKomeIp9WKbK8 4. Will It Start : Part 1 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5TToHRud86ZhtE You guys are the reason we made this video. Claire & Elton

[@robertdunnett5022]

Thank you. Just watching the Lyn Auction love the capri 👌

[@stevielegrand]

My best friend's father had an Austin A30 in black, a lovely little runner and a real head tuner in its day. Love 'em!

[@peterduxbury927]

It was brilliant to see the A30 live again! My first car was an A35, way back in 1968. I was so glad to see this old girl start, as the stuck valves freed-off. I am ex-UK, but have lived in Australia for the last 36 years, and your video takes me back in time. You have a great partner who shares your passion, and not many are quite like that! Best wishes, and good luck with some restoration work on the A30, because it deserves to live a second life.

[@MrSaw1971]

I to am 52 and iv never been so happy to see an old car start there are so many car projects on youtube none has made me smile keep up the fantastic job of making your fans happy have a very merry Christmas and avery happy and prosperous 2024 ican hardly for the next video it could be a weekly show on youtube then the tv xx

[@kimhenson4939]

Well done you two, what a cheering video to hear your A30 start and run after all the trials and tribulations. If it was my Austin I would try to get the clutch working and the car driving before stripping anything down transmission or engine-wise, but advise a full brake check/overhaul at the outset. Good luck and thanks for bringing some winter sunshine to us viewers!

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you, Kim. You know, better than many, how lovely these little cars are. We’re just learning that 😀

[@philipgray9155]

Had a black 1958 A30 in the 70s. Loved that little car despite the holes and the handbrake coming off in my hand one day… and the carb freezing up, etc. Drove it all over the UK. Wish I could find one over here in Canada. We’ll done getting it running - hearing that sound was so nostalgic.

[@chrisbarker2573]

My first car was an A30 and, as a poor apprentice, I couldn't afford to have it maintained by a garage. So I had to read up and teach myself how to work on the engine. So I really know how you felt when it burst into life. My A30 was the recipient of a new timing chain and water pump as well as having the head skimmed and new valves and guides fitted. All done by myself, with the help of a Haynes manual. If I could do it at 19 (some 57 years ago) you are more than capable of it. The water pumps were a common leakage problem. Don't forget, the valve seats might not like E10 petrol, the engine was designed for leaded petrol. But if you do take the head off to work on it you could get new valves and also modify the seats so that she can run on unleaded. Ps; When I had my A30 petrol was 3 shillings and sixpence for a gallon: 17.5p !!!! Best of luck with the old girl, I will enjoy watching your progress.

[@UKBarnFinds]

For any younger viewers reading the comment above, that's less than 4-pence a litre (or liter, in some countries)! It sounds like a lot of people cut their teeth on these little Austins. We're enjoying learning them from scratch and it really helps to have comments like this, as genuine personal experience trumps any Google search. Thank you. If the head ever comes off, we'll look at the option of converting it to unleaded.

[@highpath4776]

@@UKBarnFinds Adding millers VSP and noting modern stuff they call petrol goes off is your way forward if not planning on doing high mileage. Is it a948cc . 848cc or 1098cc (later than car) engine ? 948s run the most sweet

[@stephenkirsuphumble3960]

YESSS!!! brill guys crack on with this, its a great little car😊

[@colinslater2947]

My dad had an A30 when I was a kid. I still remember her number plate LOU 493. Louey as she was affectionately known.

[@daggggy]

Have a Happy Christmas you two from Victoria British Columbia Job well done

[@toddschumacher2394]

I’m from USA please keep going with this amazing little car

[@user-dt2yi9po4w]

Brilliant to see I’m 65 Nxt February and I had my first car journey in one of these being picked up from the maternity hospital aged 3 days Well done

[@jamesconnors4297]

Brightened up a rainy Saturday morning . many thanks . Lovely little car

[@johnchetwynd3618]

I’ve been following this with nostalgic interest. In 1970, at the age of 17, I bought my first car for £10. It was an Austin A30 😊. I think mine must have been a base model, as I don’t recollect there being a heater 😂 (I might be wrong). I then ‘upgraded’ to a 1953 Series 2 Morris Oxford for £45, then at the age of 20 a brand spanking new Mk 1 Ford Escort. Happy days. Last summer I saw an A30 at a car meet and was amazed at how small it was. The owner let me have a sit in it. I was instantly transported back. Well done on getting it going again, job well done

[@anj4de]

Great video! Thnaks a lot. I would now first tackle the cooling and breaks and get it to drive. After a while you can still check on the engine and concider an overhaul but for get her on the road first.

[@shaunhewitt]

I watched my dad do this once when he had an engine with stuck springs and he boiled atf fluid in a old saucepan and poured it over it to free it 😊

[@SalisburyKarateClub]

Great to see it finally run. A good service should make it run better.

[@paulmoore6345]

Well done for pressing on with it. Just carry on resurrecting it bit by bit

[@wamgoc]

Well done you guys!!!!👏👏👏👏

[@rockatansky1305]

I bet if little "peanut" could speak it would say a big thanks for percevering with me, well done and thanks for an entertaining watch, here's looking forward to more. Good luck

[@chriscansdale6389]

Hi guys, greetings from Melbourne, Australia....a couple of tips for you for future reference. A mix of acetone and atf has been shown to be a far superior penetrant than products such as wd40 or atf or diesel alone. Mix it 50/50 by volume. It separates so you have to shake it up before use. Second thing, you mentioned about not knowing what to look for on the bore scope... basically any rust (in this cars scenario), deep scatches/scoring which would usually be vertical lines or pitting in the cylinder walls. Also any obvious cracks in the tops of pistons or holes. Both of which would be terminal. The mess on top of the piston you showed is just carbon and not a huge issue unless there was heaps of it. Ideally these checks should be done before attempting to unseize an engine as it tells you what you're facing. Soaking the bores was the right thing to do either way. Well done on saving a survivor. The A series are tough little engines.. As a general rule when dealing with a car like this I would tackle in this order: attempt to turn engine over by hand a full rotation to ensure it turns freely. Deal with seizing like you did. Check for compression and investigate if none. Lube the bores if the engine wasn't originally seized. Tackle the fuel system and ignition like you did. Spin the engine on the starter (no plugs) to get check/get oil pressure. Put the plugs in, add fuel and ignition and give her a crack! That little A30 has a nice quiet sounding engine so hopefully the oil burning will settle down and we'll see you on your nest adventure with her..

[@bristolmod]

Brilliant! Old School and certainly worth watching. Loved it!!

[@martincunnington2154]

Brilliant to see her running now for the first drive well done guys

[@Lot76CARS]

Congratulations, a brilliant effort of perseverance by both of you. What a great little car to bring back to life! It’s never “just a car”😅 stick with it guys please!

[@PaulinesPastimes]

I completely agree. 👍

[@ryanrodgers1826]

hi and well done a30 1st car for me to drive at 10 years old thanks for time you to cheers keep going do not give in your time pays off

[@Chas1160]

I love to see classic cars coming back to life. Thanks for posting.

[@nealeburgess6756]

Great result. Where to go from here? At this point don't strip the engine. Let it have a bit of running. Drive it around, let it thoroughly warm up and cool down numerous times. Change the oil again. Give the engine a chance to free itself off, things like the piston rings may be stuck, but also may unstick with use. With regards to the clutch: the plates maybe very stuck together. So don't just put it in first or reverse. They don't have syncromesh. Try putting it in a higher gear. If it doesn't want to go into gear don't force it. The next step requires working brakes! Push the car to an open bit of road or car park. Warm the engine. Turn engine off. Select first gear. (You may need to rock the car forwards or backwards to allow the gear to engage). Start the engine (brakes off) with the car in gear. It will drive off. Then try to get the clutch to disengage (push the clutch pedal down) while accelerating and decelerating. You might need to be a bit brutal with the gas. If that doesn't work try braking, with gas and clutch pedal down. I used this method on a barn find car with a similar engine (1972 Wolseley 18/85, 1.8 B series engine). It took a few tries driving around the site outside the workshop before it successfully freed itself. It then proceeded to work perfectly well with no further attention needed to the clutch. (Of course, if the clutch won't disengage you can put the car in neutral to stop, or simply turn off the engine). You can be thankful that the A30 (and A35) has a mechanical clutch release, not a hydraulic one. When I first started my 1936 Austin Seven Ruby (Barn find) the clutch was not stuck. Let's hope your little A30 is the same!

[@highpath4776]

Yeah, generally agree but the Austins had an odd rod and cable brake set up, in a way easy to set up and clean etc, but not exactly the most efficient of systems - the big drums and shoes compensated !

[@daveunsworth9931]

Brilliant well done! A30 was my first car ,wish I still had it.

[@Jan-pw4po]

Wonderful that you got it running. The best penetrating oil is a mixture of 50/50 ATF and Acetone

[@phillipclaridge3112]

Persistence pays! Well done Elton and Clare - really pleased to see that little old car run again. Next job - make it move. Happy Christmas to you and family

[@rolex0071]

Fantastic, Fantastic, unbelievable 👏 🙌 love ❤️ from Ireland 🇮🇪 Eamon

[@leeedwards9043]

what beautiful little car. all cars will run if you give them love and care don't matter how long they sit for mate. well done you two for saving another bit of history 👍👍👍😎

[@ranamitra9261]

It seems to be very nostalgic to recollect & review this wonderful cute & dear little old pal - the Austin A30 since we had one of those way back in the mid 60's.

[@zingo2664]

Brilliant video !! LOVE IT !!!

[@derekskinner8682]

She lives , well done both . 👍

[@MrAdamchat]

well done, great to watch!

[@spotsterjon74cu]

I’m chuffed to bits for you, she’s a lovely old girl, and great to see her coming back to life👍🏻

[@geoffmower8729]

Well done guys you've woken her up from her coma. Marry Christmas and a happy new year from Adelaide South Australia.👍🏻👍🏻

[@chilternman]

Brilliant 👍👍 if it were me next step would be to check coolant waterways. Remove thermostat and clear gunk, remove hoses and put a hose through until it runs clear. Pump off and check or replace and replace thermostat and put back together. Do same with heater matrix if it has one and lastly radiator off car and flush through. New hoses and water to start with and run up to temp looking for leaks before draining and filling up with coolant. It may be more cost effective to get radiator recored if a problem there.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Excellent advice; thank you 🙏

[@carolynsampson242]

Well done guys! I know nothing about engines and I am learning so much from you both. So thank you and thanks to your many advisors! I really enjoy watching you guys chat away about your love of old cars, what a wonderful thing to share with each other! Keep up the great work! ❤

[@markhinde6187]

It's alive........... great stuff guys

[@user-vx6ii2vu5f]

Well done guys loved it

[@alanpotter3146]

Well done.52 years,amazing.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you Alan 🙏

[@stephenparrott3377]

Go for it. Make sure there is no serious rot in chassis. Once complete would be worth a fortune. LOL

[@melodeekeays229]

Well done.

[@garycorbin2789]

Keep on Keeping on , from Australia

[@stuli6007]

When you don't have to drive it to work on Monday you can persevere! I don't know what it is about A series 4 bangers but they can start no matter how bad the motor is. I hope you get it driving sooner rather than later! Well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@lucythemoggy1970]

your perseverance has made me a subscriber! well done!

[@affordablevs]

Brilliant seeing her running! Keep plugging on, you will get there!

[@KendalSmithy]

What is it about resurrecting a stuck engine that fires up the emotions? I was screaming with you when you got that going, with tears running down my face. You're a couple of gems and I love you both.

[@christmaselfcustoms]

Happy she fired up. Keep going with the heat cycle should help free any gummed up rings hopefully the smoke will clear the amount of oil it's had down it she is going to take some clearing.but keep at it . To rebuild the engine is not the end of the world but keep going and get it driving down the road

[@stephenwest9757]

Very well done. I was one of those who commented about sticking valves and rings but had missed t he last few seconds of your previous video. The big clue was that only a couple of valves moving. Great persistence in freeing them. But remember the no compression sound is a fast constant whiring instread of pulsing. You didnt need a compression tester to tell you there was effectively none. I'm looking forward to seeing her drive now.

[@ianspicer3885]

Well done mate I've been following your posts lately and it's great to see the ol girl running 😂

[@garrymelnyk8084]

Congratulations for getting the little Austin going. Enjoying all your videos.

[@peterlawrie8766]

Well done, a real achievement. Lovely to see the A30 running again.

[@johnbollen1322]

Just found this, I'm 63 yo, and you have brought back memories of my dear dad. He had 3 of these beauties and I spent hours in them as he worked on them, pressing pedals when i was about 8 or 9. Good luck with the next step!

[@UKBarnFinds]

That’s fantastic. These cars are all about memories and we’re so glad that we’ve been able to bring back so many of them for people like yourself. These A30s certainly made an impact.

[@jasonwoods4811]

Yay the little A30 lives, that has made so happy, well done to the pair of you!! :D

[@tns5044]

Great stuff guys!

[@ianford2383]

Well done great work respect

[@RAK402]

Congratulations! I really enjoyed seeing it start and run! These are really cool little cars!

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you. You’re absolutely right; such cool little cars that just seem to want to keep going!

[@Ian-ym1rn]

Enjoy this

[@Ian-ym1rn]

❤️❤️❤️🙏

[@Samual911able]

Wow!!! That is just awesome. I love videos like this. I'm absolutely amazed. Well done on bringing this car back to life on its original motor after 52 years. I am 59 years old and was in my first year of primary school in Norfolk, England in 1971. You are just an amazing mechanic I look more to seeing more of your videos next year. Merry Christmas from Sean in West Australia.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you, Sean, much appreciated. The mechanical side of these cars is pretty basic, like my own skills, so it really was just a case of stubbornness that won in the end. We're very grateful for all the comments that pointed us in the right direction and supported us along the way. This little car has captured many hearts! Have a great Christmas and we hope to show you some more of our antics in the coming months.

[@highpath4776]

think its a gold seal engine so an exchange unit from BL at some time. poss early 70s

[@michaelamiss1828]

My first car was a ‘54 2door A 30. Great little car, 70mph flat out, downhill with a tail wind. 🇦🇺

[@UKBarnFinds]

The thought of going that speed in one petrified me, then I saw this video of the awesome Shed Racing A30 and my perspective changed! kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHfCaWWfqp6DqtUsi=5JqUP3KthwhizArq

[@alk5491]

Excellent both of you. Keep going

[@UKBarnFinds]

Will do 👍 thank you so much for watching

[@end-days]

A testament to British engineering!

[@zonie1953]

Well done ! Good to see the little guy run again . Merry Christmas from Arizona ! Scott 🌵

[@kevinmartin3859]

Two words Well Done 😊😊

[@ianh8396]

This little gem of a car brings back some memories, my grandad owned on, in black, when I was a little nipper.

[@paultucker1272]

Brilliant, well done you two!

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you Paul 😀

[@llmikeyj1]

Much love for this little A30. Clearly wants to live again!

[@brummie0007]

Great stuff guys, well done ;)

[@DavidElrick-uz7fm]

Awesome guys work on the car too get it started give it over haul n spray

[@dave.harmon]

Brilliant job mate

[@rickswanson3687]

Congratulations 🇨🇦

[@colrhodes377]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏That's fantastic 👏 👌

[@curtisbaker7122]

Congrats and excited for sure i love this stuff

[@manuelstarr3602]

If this helps, Starting from the valve. Valve guides & Seals, Valve Springs, Valve Caps and Collets. The rocket arm rests on top of valve, and on the Push Rod on the other side. Push Rod Lifts the Rocker arm on top, bottom it is pushed by the (Cam Follower) Lifter. It's possible for the Lifter to stick, it's possible for the Push Rod to bend. It's also possible for the valve to stick. I would lift the head (about 20 mins) Inspect, clean, repair. Buy new Head Gasket and re-assemble. Love the video's.

[@jimbarnett3765]

Well done, Little tip, sometimes briefly slapping your hand over the air intake will create a big vacuum that will draw petrol through the carb and clear a lot of the rubbish out.

[@threadbear]

Well done to you.

[@stevegreagsby6174]

Fantastic! A great achievement and such a positive story in these days of what seems like constant gloom. Can’t wait to see what’s next in this little cars life. Hope you both have a great Christmas.

[@andyhewitt7588]

Congrats guys 😀😀👏👏👏

[@mikedavies5084]

Briliant video keep up the good work

[@davidsowerby2954]

Well done the two of you. Looking forward to the next stage of this.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you. We’ll chip away at some of the other jobs now, I’m sure.

[@paulg9483]

Well done guys , I didn’t doubt the old girl wouldn’t run , good old British motor. So pleased for you both. Keep up the good work 👍👍

[@robertchauval]

Another Kiwi here LOL. I just found your YT ch this afternoon and watched the full A30 journey thru. Got a new subscriber.... Wow what a lil charmer youve got (well 2 actually).. Claire took to it like a duck to water. Massive smile on your face haha. They are just so driveable.... Now you know why the A30 35s have such a loyal following.. you're hook line and sinker into it now. Thanks so much for the nostalgia trip.. Im 61 and my 1st car was an A35 in 1979.. they just go and go and go. I managed to get almost 50mpg out of it as well on a road trip.. I had 8 school mates and a dog in mine and broke a stub axle haha.. so much fun. You def need to get the head off at some stage of course and have a good look at those valve stems and guides. They do really respond to an occassional honest day trip to cook off any carbon deposits. Picnic with the kids. Kids just love these Noddy Cars.. My guess is that it was a shopping basket and got well and truly coked up hence the sticking valves.. Imo itd be well worth the effort to put in hardened seats for lead free petrol.. should add saleability and value to it as a result?? Looking fwd to the next installment. Wishing you a happy and safe xmas new year

[@gra271]

Well done 👏👏👍

[@davidclare955]

Well done mate

[@mick0846]

Well done 👏 it needs to be put back on the road. Now, if there's ever been a mascot for a channel, then this is it

[@UKBarnFinds]

Funny thing is, we never saw it coming, either. PPW was supposed to be a barn find ‘show car’!

[@mick0846]

@UKBarnFinds ha it still can be only you will be able to drive it there 😉 get a few uk barn find stickers on it and it will be the star of the show

[@porsche356a]

Watching from Sydney, Australia. Well done getting the old girl started, I really thought that valve was not going to give up, but admire your persistence. Its funny how an old car starting can bring so much joy to us and to you. I am pulling a Citroen AX out of a surburban Sydney garden tomorrow morning and it hasn't run for 15 years! Nothing on your 52 years I know.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Best of luck with your Citroen, that sounds like a great project 👍 Shame we are the over the other side of the world!

[@S2NAZ]

Well done! That was a trial of persistence and determination. Those little 4 cylinder British engines are remarkably resilient. It would be interesting to see now what the compression is after the fire up. Stay warm you two! ❤

[@peterthomas7203]

Superb! Well done 😊

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you! And cheers for watching.

[@TheSiruncle]

Great to see the engine running with pretty much all original bits. 😊 Well done to you both. Doing the head up isn't hard, it's just being methodical really. It'll be a skill you may be able to use again too.

[@dualrobin]

You guys have done well, keep going, next step cooling, then gears then rolling

[@gerkeane5626]

Brilliant video… only just started following you guys … just at start of the A30 project …… I look at at a lot of similar folk on their videos but you guys have a refreshing approach…. Feels like I’m in the shed with you . When the car fired up I had same feeling as you guys had ..great stuff … keep it up 👍👍👍👏👏

[@UKBarnFinds]

That’s a lovely comment. Thank you. We’re glad to have you in there with us.

[@gra271]

I was in the back of one of these when my mum did driving lessons, about 1964

[@UKBarnFinds]

Awesome! Do you mean she was having lessons, or she was a driving instructor?

[@leefinney592]

Do whatever you can to get this car running. This car is worth restoring. Whatever happens, I hope it keeps its external looks. It would be a shame to change that.

[@rodmintern]

The old "A" Series Engine was a star in its own rights..so easy to work on. and no major problem to get it going. it`s ok. tapping the end of the Valve Stem. but Beware. you could Dis-Lodge a Cotter. then it`s head off. that Engine was in most Austin and Morris Cars. including the Mini.turned sideways for them. De-Coked and Rebuilt. many in my time. now days. the Mechanics..Woops Sorry. they are Technicians nowdays.. and half of them would not know how to do it... it`s to easy to just change the Units. Engine, Gearbox and Diffs......if i knew where you are located. I would love to come and help you. to get them running again....Keep it up.. Well done. and lovely untidy workshop..ha ha..

[@johnsomers8269]

Merry Christmas!

[@BelfastMurf]

Great job, it wasn’t looking so hopeful at the end of the last one!

[@UKBarnFinds]

Indeed. We were a bit down in the dumps after that one.

[@johnsomers8269]

Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing it totally restored!