Will it Start? Barn Find Austin A30 | Laid Up For 52 Years!

[@UKBarnFinds]

**UPDATE** Finished watching this episode? PLEASE check out the next one. We thing you'll like it! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mp-2p3aJoZqqec0 Thank you for all the comments. The feedback and advice is proving to be very useful, yet again. 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 Thanks again, Claire & Elton

[@johndavis3284]

I like the 2cv you have does it start

[@richardlewis5316]

Where are you? I could see other old cars in your garage. I'd like to come look at them and even and do work on them for free as my modern car is too complicated. I found a Ford conversion in a farm. It had a fibreglass body called an EB60 I think - (not UB40!) Cable brakes so quite fun to drive but I drove it for 3 years. I'm in Derby

[@UKBarnFinds]

@@johndavis3284 - sure does. We've done a video on that one and will do another soon.

[@UKBarnFinds]

@@richardlewis5316 - I've just been looking at pictures of the Ford EB60 on Google. Cool looking thing! We're quite a way away, in Suffolk, but our A30 may well be on show up your way in 2024.

[@jameshughes2783]

Enjoyed watching your channel for the first time. However, I found it very frustrating because as soon as you turned the engine over with the plugs in, it was abundantly clear that there was zero compression! I was shouting at my iPad…”THERE IS NO COMPRESSION!” 😀. However, when an engine has been standing idle for so long it will probably be stuck compression rings and/or as someone has said, stuck valves the latter less likely because you would probably get contact between the piston crowns and the valves and I couldn’t hear anything like that. Clearly, it’s still an engine out issue but may just mean freeing up the rings then reassembling without spending too much on it. Glad you worked it out eventually. I’ll continue to watch your channel as I found it most entertaining!👍

[@MOTORSPORT401]

You might have sticky valves , take the rocker cover off and turn the engine over and see if all the valves are moving up and down , some of them might be stuck due to sitting for so long , also check the valves haven't been incorrectly adjusted

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you. I’m reading a few similar suggestions, which is very interesting and makes me glad that I put the question out there. Being a hobby mechanic, I’m often stuck, so it’s great to hear back from people who’ve done the things I’m yet to do. - Elton

[@Ragnar8504]

6D Diesels just had a video on a Reliant engine that's been sitting since 1986 and he had to beat some of the valves with a hammer to get them moving again. Absolutely zero compression doesn't sound like worn rings to me, you should get something in that case. The starter did sound a bit off from the get go, turning too fast and smoothly for an engine with good compression so I had my suspicions about the state of that engine.

[@christianbattestin9747]

I think you're right. It sounded like it didn't have any compression.

[@philtucker1224]

Probably easier just to whip off the cylinder head and have a look!

[@davecooper3238]

Lost my virginity in an A30.

[@robertwells1650]

The two of you make a great team! Great to see your faces when driving the black A30. Hopefully the green one is just sticky valves or a blown head gasket. Keep the videos coming! Cheers

[@nickb5391]

@11.11, the hose clip is standard fitment to stop the oil filter from unscrewing itself, there should be a bracket that it goes around & when the oil filter is on it secures it all together

[@Paul-dz6fs]

You don't need to pull the engine. From previous videos, you put diesel or paraffin in the bores without leaking into the sump, which means that the rings are holding compression. When you were cranking with the Easy Start, did you notice it blowing out instead of sucking ? .. this would tell me inlet valve or cam timing issues, which I would investigate first. As others have said, check for sticky valves and valve clearances first and then maybe cam timing lastly. It did try and fire, hence why it was spitting back. As a quick check, put your fingers over the air intake on the carb, you should feel whether the air is sucking or blowing. This should clarify my thoughts. If your outro of the rockers is this car, valve 4 is stuck for a start ;) It may pay to remove the rocker shaft and get the pistons halfway through their travel and gently bounce the valves with a hammer (with lubrication on the stems) .. it may free them up without stripdown.

[@iainmacleod4007]

I agree, could be stuck or damaged valves. Pistons, bores and rings may well be ok. Put some parafin in the bores and this should free off stuck rings.

[@philtucker1224]

Agreed! (Always try the simple fixes first before committing loads of money unnecessarily)

[@edwinmalan5142]

Age could have caused the Rings to fall flat...maybe ? Hoping the other guys are right...

[@samrodian919]

@@edwinmalan5142whatever do you mean by "Fall flat"?

[@stevenholton438]

@@samrodian919 lol

[@KiwiStag74]

Great to see the A30 bug has bitten you well and truly. They are wonderful little cars and so under-rated as a character-filled box of fun when it comes to driving a classic. That little black one is a honey, although she's not as original as the green one. I like how she still has the trafficators in use and I like the blue seats with the black body, although from factory, it would have had the option of red or grey. I especially love the fact that that one has opening rear quarter light windows - a rarely ticked option on the sheet - and she has factory fitted Smiths heater, so a bonus in the coming northern hemisphere winter (and if it doesn't produce heat, try back-flushing it, as this works wonders!). The 80mph speedo from an A35 is a bit of a giggle if she still has the 803 and standard diff, but she is a good tidy car and sounds magnificent - even the 1st gear idler (which is often damaged through abuse) sounds perfect! The sounds of 2nd and 3rd took me back to many a happy trip in the family car too. Speaking of gearboxes, the trick with the gear change is to time when you pull the stick into the next gear to match with roughly the engine revs that the gear will be starting at - ie: rev-matching. The old synchros in that box aren't like modern ones and like a good second of time between being in one gear and selecting the next and quick changes will result in you being told off quite soundly by the box. First and reverse have no synchro whatsoever and people pushing them back into the straight cut gear or high speed / prolonged use of the gear is what results in a worn / damaged and noisy idler. With the lack of compression and the tag-on video of stuck valves, there are many ways of freeing them up and the internet is awash with videos of people that have conflicting views - as I am sure you've seen and heard / read. From experience, I have had a 948cc out of an A35 that had a stuck valve after sitting in a garage for 15 years or so. All that was required was a tap on the top of the rocker where it meets the valve and the valve went down and popped up again...and of course, she was away and laughing on all four after that. However, yours present a minor dilemma with at least a couple of them as they look like they are stuck open rather than closed and there is a possibility that they don't have much (if any) more travel before they bottom out on the spring. Now, learned scholars would have you pull the head off, take it all apart carefully, grind the valves and seats, lap the valves in on the seats, clean all the passages and reassemble. This of course is the most correct way of doing it. However, before you pull the head off, take the rocker assembly off (as you will need to remove the rocker assembly and pushrods to take the head off the block anyway), then soak all valves down with some WD40. Make sure you get inside the valve springs so that the penetrating oil gets down in the valve guides to do its job. Give it about an hour and repeat the lubrication, then give it a couple of hours to do its thing. Now, gently tap on the stuck valves starting with #1 exhaust and work your way to the back. When you hit the top of the valve, made sure that your hammer (or other large heavy implement) is hitting it flat on the top of the valve stem so that you don't damage the edge of the top of the valve - or worse, bend the stem or break the valve itself. Repeat the tap several times before giving up. If you are lucky, the first tap will break the valve or stem free of the crud holing it and she will snap back to the top. A stuck valve makes a dull "thack" noise when you hit it. A valve that is free makes a "ping" sound as the valve bounces down and returns on the spring to hit the seat. There is the possibility that you may push the valve down and it not return. In this case, tap a medium-sized flat blade screwdriver between the bottom and second ringlets of the valve spring and then try to lever it up. If she won't budge, then the head has to come off so you can try tapping it back......but that had to happen anyway if you were going to lap them in anyway, right? The valves still have to be free-moving in the valve guides to be able to grind seat / valve and lap them in, so you've lost nothing and gained a bit of experience. If you are only left with a couple that aren't playing ball and coming back to top, then try more lubrication and time. One can never under-estimate the value of the ol' magic water, WD40! Hope it goes well and all the very best of luck! Hope you get the little black one on the road and you can get out and enjoy it soon.

[@andrewmalyon5699]

Loved the video on the A30's, what fun little cars, Claire's face when she was driving the black one made the video for me,she was genuinely loving it.

[@robreuler144]

Very fun to watch you and Claire work.

[@Aardvarkdk1]

Always fascinated by the dynamics between you too. Don't ever leave us !

[@UKBarnFinds]

Ah, thank you. Think we’ll stick around 👍🏻

[@kevinmartin3859]

A great video i hope you can get the car running it would be so nice to hear it work after all the work you have done trying to get it working 😊😊

[@BelfastMurf]

I remember a friend of mine telling me that he was picking up parts at the motor factors, when a very well dressed fella came in asking for parts for an A35. Seamus asked him did he have an A35. Yer man looked him up & down, taking in his oil stained overalls & with a look of distain answered with a curt yes before turning away. “His loss”, Seamus told me, “I’ve 3 or 4 owners manuals I’d have given him.”! A30s are great little cars. It’ll be nice to follow this one’s progress.

[@peterchapman8357]

great cars i have had one for the last eight years, had a full mechanical restoration runs lovely enjoy

[@allanedwards5349]

I've owned and worked on a good few of these old A series engines. If that is an original 803cc 3 gear A30 then that is not an original style oil filter. The original wasn't a disposable type, it had a central long bolt through the filter bowl and a disposable paper filter inside.

[@carllockpick6179]

Put a couple of squirts of oil in the spark plug holes, and re pressure test, if it goes up, its the piston rings. May be worthwhile checking the vales are seating first.

[@davidbroadbent2529]

Good luck with getting your beauty running. A year or so back I acquired an A30 that had not run for over 40 years. Unlike so many uTuber's "Lets try and and get XYZ running after its sat for over +20 odd years, that just turn a engine over with little little or no engineering knowledge" and crank the engine (Ok some take plugs out) without taking a basic set of steps to safeguard what is left of the engines internal moving surfaces; I do the following:- 1. The biggest 1st step most don't do is prime the engines lubrication system. Imagine for instance you have sat BARE bottomed on one end of a Level seesaw for 40 or 50 years (other end has a balance weight). Then along comes some Person whom starts Cranking a handle connected to central pivot pin. At that instance your inner butt moves back and forth, but the outer cheek skin had grown to or bonded with the wood of the seesaw. Needless to say you get your bum skin torn, possibly off. This is near what happens to the bearing shells around the crankshaft. The lube has dried out, and the metal has in some cases bonded. So what do you do... you obviously remove the plugs. Then you work out how to connect an external lubrication pump to the engines main oil gallery. Then spend the next few days priming the engine for 10 or more minutes. After the 3 or 4th priming session, then start to gently rock the crank. It could take you a week or more. Look also that you are getting clean oil to upper engine motion parts. Bore scope it necessary. Then when you feel the engine turning freely, can you consider fuel and sparking it. Many engines have the Oil pressure Switch after the Oil Filter. So you can take filter off, make a blanking plate to stop oil backfeeding... then remove oil pressure switch and connect your remote oil pump to here. Use low pressure to start. I have gauge on this priming line. First drain the sump, then leave plug out and have a clean pan under to view the oil coming out from your priming flush. Depending on the type of bearing material and seals used in original vehicle I choose different types of oil to use as an initial flush - crank bearing lubing. Also I have on occasion used quite fine low viscosity oils 10 grade hydraulic or like for the initial 4 or 5 pumping's. Only then going to 20 or 30sae oil for at least 2 more flushes ( each around 2L or more depending on engine size) I have owned quite a few Vintage and Veteran cars in my life. My 4Cyl 8L PetL made on 8th March 1904 I didn't have option to do the above, as it was a Dry sump drip fed engine. Plus it had not run in over 80 year. So it got dismantled fully. Cleaned, measured, assembled and cautiously started. Sadly that was back at time of Beta and VHS tapes only. One day I may find the tape we filmed its first run. Am I qualified to in this field to give the above advice.. Well am now 72yo. At 19 I did a 5 year apprenticeship as a Caterpillar Higher level Diesel mechanic. Later in life I worked for many years for Rolls Royce as a Marine engineer on large marine engines. And in the last 10 years I have worked hands on for 2 different Space Rocket Companies on the engine systems. , BTW What my A30 needed was a new coil, plug lead both ends changing (kept the leads), a new condenser. I lightly filed the points surfaces and re gaped the points. A battery, as there was not one.. and I dismantled and cleaned the carby. Was gummed up bad. I think the diaphram in the petrol pump is faulty, so to start it I just fed the carby from a small petrol reservoir with fuel enough to gravity feed. I removed the brake shoes, when I had the wheels off to fitted 4 s/h tires {15% life left} (cost about 1kg of fresh home grown strawberries to tire shop) . and after about 30 mins of running engine was able to move car under its own power. Finding reverse was fun. Mine is a very early one and you have to LIFT stick to then get reverse selected. I then drove it slowly home with Heavy Landrover behind and tow rope between. Landrover was my brakes. Finally it has sat for about 12 months now, started average once a month, and in last few weeks I noticed Radiator has started leaking midway down on engine side. So that next to fix. Then do brakes and get fuel pump running then take it for a drive again. BTW I found my engine and chassis number on a sort of plastic/ivory plate that was affixed with 4 rivets to top side of right sun visor. It was buckled in slight roll shape... DO NOT .. DO NOT try to flatten it as I got told the crack and split in 2.. Someone in UK will have experience in best method to flatten it. again good luck regards David in Australia

[@robertnader2292]

Mate you guys have a winner of a show ,keep going

[@silvermorlock441]

You have to get you little green car on the road it deserves a second chance it would be great fun to be there and give you a hand so please have a crack at it. Love that car.

[@JesusTorres-qr1gz]

Standart procedure when dealing with engines that sat for long time, check for engine fluids, engine seized, cylinder compression and spark at spark plugs, fuel coming into the carburetor or fuel injectors, then try it, respectfully sir, most kind of you for sharing this video with us, blessings to you and your love ones, from the endless summer paradise Puerto Rico Jesus Torres.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you. It’s great to know that our videos are being seen in Puerto Rico. I think the only thing we didn’t test, until right at the end, was the compression. We’d been so lucky up until that point, as everything worked. We still hope to have the car running soon.

[@JesusTorres-qr1gz]

@@UKBarnFinds most kind of you gentleman, at my 71 years of age often I watch those videos which I enjoy to my best and any technical support that I can provide to anyone at the global level for sure I know that it's welcome, blessings to you and your love ones, my gratitude for your kindness sir.

[@alancooper7062]

I used to own an a30 circa 1968, great to reminisce, switch it to negative earth , just swop connections around and then flash large spade connector on dynamo to new live, it’s as easy as that ,

[@wamgoc]

What a fabulous channel! I’m hooked!!! Great if you could get it running and usable! Leave it as it is and enjoy!!!

[@jameshodgson1609]

My first classic car back in the 80’s. The heater as I recall was very impressive and warmed the interior up a treat.

[@1960ARC]

My Father had one of these around 1966, what a lovely car.

[@TheSiruncle]

Another rocker cover off, to check valves suggestion. Could possibly progress to head off, if valves are all moving, to check the underside of the head, and have a look at the top of the pistons. You'll then be able to see the state of the combustion chambers too. Head off, isn't particularly hard, nor is refitting it. It's only really nuts and bolts...

[@BernardSamson-hf6fc]

I remember as a small kid, my Dad & Mum had an A30. It had to go backwards up steep hills. One of the few memories I have of it, then they managed to buy a 105E Anglia. It seemed massive compared to the A30. Driving around Catford, and Greenwich, Great Times. I hope you have fun in the A20.

[@nickb5391]

@49.08, looks like the piston rings have stuck while it was seized, you may be able to free them off with care once you've took them out, only head & sump off job & then you can get the pistons & rods out rather than take the engine out

[@101088Albert]

What a wonderful couple, just found your channel. Has to subscribe , very entertaining.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you so much. We read every comment and ones like this make KZbin really rewarding for both of us.

[@marcduthie4327]

A bit sad about the engine. Take the rocker cover off and check valves aren't stuck. We had a few when I was at the engine shop. The second gear may well not have syncro so double clutch may help. Love both these cars and all your video's here in Australia. Marc

[@PaulinesPastimes]

As soon as you cranked over the barn find you could tell it had no compression just from the sound of it. I think it will be fine, as others have said, it's probably stuck valves. Wasn't it blowing the starting fluid back out through the carby? The black car is gorgeous and Claire seems right at home in it and drove it like she had owned it for years. It's definitely her car. 😊

[@timjames7869]

Exhaust valves stuck open. Remove cylinder head

[@zainaman710]

drain the engine oil and put some deisel in the engine. rotate the crank till its moving more smoothly and leave it for the night. drain the deisel and put in the engine oil and give it a go. adjust the valves as well

[@stevehopkinson4871]

Came across this vid tell you something very interesting I’m going to look at videos when I’ve watched this one I will go as far to say I’m going to subscribe 👍

[@mrdeafa25]

We had one of those in the early 60's. Mum and dad and 4 kids in the back. How it ever moved I have no idea.

[@taxidude]

Could tell with the hand crank there was no compression. Head off to check the valves but would they all be stuck open? Oil down the bores to see if they give you some compression first then it's your rings/pistons. Personally, curiosity would have me stripping and rebuilding that engine.

[@cliffthompson2996]

Nice work GUYS ❤❤

[@fifidear-t7t]

Remember, a car won't run without electricity 😂

[@forestsantos9828]

great video, in regards to that oil filter, i once worked on a Scottish aviation inc. B125 Bulldog airplane, and it had a similar looking oil filter that was reusable, the clamp held the 2 halves together and had a cleanable screen assy. inside. might be worth looking at a bit closer

[@garybrown9526]

On the black Austin the reason for the gold rocker cover is that its a reconditioned engine, Austin and others did this and hence it was originally known as a gold block

[@colindebourg9012]

We used to call them Gold Seal engines.

[@garrymelnyk8084]

I don't know my British car models that well, but to me the little green Austin seems worth preserving. An engine rebuilt will cost a few. Yet, its not a big engine. Preserve the Austin body and interior but invest in rebuilt engine, transmission and suspension. Just so it passes inspection. Doesn't have to be a beauty on the outidie.

[@andrewbeer4715]

Great video ,lovely car. One of my mates has an A35, lovely little car. I have a Morris Minor as my daily driver, which also uses an A series engine. I can tell from the clip at the end that stuck valves are the problem. You never know, WD40 down the valve guides might just solve it! Failing that, take the head off and get someone to overhaul it. With the head off you can check the bores for wear to see if more drastic action is required. Don't give up on that engine yet. Good luck 👍

[@KevinRea-ho5my]

the great ole a30s 😊

[@davidsutton6787]

If I'm not mistaken,thats a Lucas M35J starter.Take it to bits n fix it.Not being big headed,my late father had me doing such in my early teens.I'm now 58 and would love another go at one!!Honestly,piece of cake.

[@UKBarnFinds]

I’ve never taken a starter apart. That sounds kind of fun! You’ll see in the subsequent video on this car that I found a local company to rebuild this one. Cost more than a cheap replacement, but it’s lovely to have the original one still.

[@davidsutton6787]

Had to make a Bendix spring compressor for these motors as part of my apprenticeship,wish I still had it!@@UKBarnFinds

[@yapyapdotcom7774]

Great video, my first car was MK11 Zodiac 210 KAF and second vehicle 1962 A35 Van 28 PRL.

[@fifidear-t7t]

Used to fix my own cars, with the help of a car manual. You can get a car manual from Halfords. Always ordered car parts from Halfords, in the days when they actually used to stock parts on the shop floor. Never used a garage, as they got the wrong parts and charged for labour without actually rectifying the problem, three days later. Sometimes, they where clueless. I would fix it in an afternoon. Makes good videos, by dragging it out, though. Remember, a car won't function without electricity 😅

[@garyashdown5376]

After the amount of time the car has sat and as you have shown the head has valve problems which is old school mechanics to sort out easy job, the thing to note the rings on the pistons could well be stuck . So when you take the head off fill the cylinders with automatic transmission oil and let them stew for a few days while the head is rebuilt. Once the engine is running let it do a few heat cycles and the rings will slowly free up and then hopefully happy days.

[@manuelstarr3602]

Good girl, she drives like "Stirling Mess". Anytime you start with these things it's always a good thing to put a bottle of Petrol and give it a gravity feed. But first check the spark and Carbon Leads breaking down. Great little cars. Thanks for the video. Is the timing 180 out?

[@jonlowther3623]

the camshaft is driven by a chain...its a series 1 austin engine,,...only thing that could happen to the timing is if the chain goes loose, but it wont jump teeth. or someone has had a go and installed it without checking the timing marks on the crank and cam gear wheels

[@Sgt_Bill_T_Co]

I'd check the valves out first, remove the rocker cover and turn the engine over, make sure each valve operates. Another thing I always go for (though not for the low compression) is to check the carb jets out. Petrol can crystalise after a long period and clog everything up, especially after seeing all that shite in the petrol filter.

[@roberthatfull3816]

Theres one of these pancaked flat on my freinds land a huge oak tree squashed it and a ford consoul in the 87 storms i found the grill in the 90s and mounted it on a plauqe for his grandfather as it was crazily undamaged .

[@UKBarnFinds]

That was one hell of a storm. I remember it well 😳

[@stephenwest9757]

You can hear the Barnfindvhas no compression as it just goes to fast and a continuous whiring. The black one has the proper pulsing sound of compression. Have you tried putting some oil down the bores as they may be dry. But sticking valves or rings are probable but you are jumping the gun talinking about new pistons. As it was siezed it is possible the rings are just stuck in their grooves. Butif it is valves you could just remove the rocker cover and free them by tapping them without taking the head off which you would for the rings.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Hope you’ve had a chance to see the follow-up video. You’re spot-on! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mp-2p3aJoZqqec0

[@alextaxi2593]

I had two uon212 and rdr633 The latter plate is still in use last seen by me in 90 s london but has gone to a classic car now according to dvla

[@nickb5391]

always use mineral 20/50 in it don't use modern synthetic oil in it as it wasn't designed for it

[@walkingwithdogs8547]

Put some oil down each bore then compression test again, if you get a little read on the gauge then problem with rings or piston. If no read at all your looking at valves. You could also use a dual camera endoscope down the plug holes see if any other damage.

[@harrymorton1274]

Black one has reconditioned gold seal engine. That was a common replacement.

[@DanDoge-wp7uj]

If the valves arnt stuck. Your rings are stuck from sitting. You can put atf down the bores. It makes a seal to get it fired up. Then the rings might free up with a few great cycles.. i find it funny you got zero on all bores..ATF to make a seal. Then pressure test it. Good luck.

[@dustystuffgarage]

Could be head gasket ? Another awesome video cheers

[@richardw64]

I have a funny feeling I know who will keep the keys to the black Austin. Claire-Girl-Racer. Absolutely wish I had a garage like yours.

[@bobeden5027]

"Freckles" lives again!

[@michaelmayo3127]

No compression, check for value sticking before removing the power unit. It's blowing up through the carburettor. Take the rocker cover off and see how many intake valves are open.

[@ChrisandHeathervanlife]

Stick some oil down the bores and repeat the comp test. If you now get a reading its rings, if not valves.

[@nickb5391]

@27.32, that nut on the edge of the inlet manifold with a hole in it is actually upside down, there was a small pipe originally on it & it was a drain for the manifold, see if the one is still on the other one & you'll see what i mean

[@andywilliams8636]

Always do a compression check.

[@arthurwoodward9980]

Try overhauling the head, valves and valve seats, remember lead free fuel needs hardened seats and valves. Good luck

[@harrymorton1274]

My first cat austin A30 in 1969 it was a 1955 with a gold seal engine.

[@harrymorton1274]

Great wee engine ,terrible brakes , shock absorbers were lever arm on the front often needed topped up. 2 nd gear would jump out. Old indicators mine was converted from semaphore. Door straps would brake . During my ownership front spring broke then the rear . The brake master cylinder is a nightmare the shaft would seize. The clutch would be difficult in reverse , I eventually changed it ( the clutch) ate exhausts I replaced it twice during my 2 years of ownership. They did rust espically the floors and front of the rear spring hangers. Still as it was my first car I cherished it. Went from it to a VW beatle whole different car. O and I also owned a Morris minor traveller after the beatle simple car easy to work on lots of similarities to A30.

[@Peter_Vidgeon]

Does anybody else miss the smell of five-star?

[@bobspeller2225]

If you are to rebuild the engine, for the stake of originally it will need to be the current engine etc. I expect it could be done, you wont know until you take the head off. it;s too good not to. Have a great Christmas Bob ( it could just the head gasket or the piston rings or a rebore. ??

[@UKBarnFinds]

Hi Bob, please check out the next video in the series when you have time. We think you’ll like this one! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mp-2p3aJoZqqec0 Merry Christmas, Elton & Claire

[@UKBarnFinds]

Hi Bob, please check out the next video in the series when you have time. We think you’ll like this one! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mp-2p3aJoZqqec0 Merry Christmas, Elton & Claire

[@FinPurcell1]

You can crank it using the solenoid under the bonnet!

[@geoffcrowther-smith6960]

wd40 may just help if the piston rings are seized but as motorsport said you may have stuck valves . I had one of these A35 as my first car back in the sixties ( RGO 69 )and drove it like a formula 1 car ! Taking the engine out is a piece of cake, just disconnect the cables , accelerator linkages choke etc, exhaust and fuel lines, undo the engine mounts and then disconnect the engine gearbox bolts the engine will then lift out. You will need to remove the radiator to allow the engine to clear the gearbox.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you. You guys were certainly on the right track. We recently upoaded the next chapter in little PPW's story - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mp-2p3aJoZqqec0

[@SalisburyKarateClub]

Might just need a valve job, fairly easy to do in old cars, I haven't done one in decades. I remember using a suction cup on a stick to rotate it and use valve grinding paste. Please check with someone else as like I said, it's been a long time.

[@nickb5391]

@20.25, later A30 steering box, radiator & ignition coil

[@brianballard5509]

You're going to have to drop the tank and have it sealed. Blow the fuel line out as best you can and rebuild the fuel pump and carburetor. If it were me I'd pull the cylinder head completely and have it re-qualified. It's definitely sticky valves. Banging it loose you risk binding a valve which could break and drop into the cylinder (dropped valve) and destroy the engine. I imagine the entire cooling system is shot, at a minimum replace the thermostat, rebuild the water pump, and have the radiator rodded and boiled out.

[@glpilpi6209]

It wasn't till I saw the final ten seconds of the video I could see what's happened. Either you have several broken push rods or the camshaft has broken . Either way the engine internals need an overhaul . Or the engine will have to be replaced , probably an easier option for you.

[@glpilpi6209]

I bought a cracking one of these in the mid seventies for £25 . I still remember the smell of the seats and it was a hoot to drive. Didn't have enough money to replace a slipping clutch so I sold it on for £35 !. But I had a couple of months out of it. The heater box on the black car should be fitted with the vent air pipe otherwise you will smell the exhaust gases from a leak coming in from the engine bay bit dangerous too. Good luck.

[@craig1010cc]

Looks a great project, and would be a shame to have it restored rather than refurbished. The lack of compression is not a broken timing chain, the cam drives the dizzy and you have proven that it is turning as your getting a spark. Its unlikely to a valve issue (as all 4 cylinders are at 0) but could be that they are all adjusted badly so they aren't closing. Most likely is stuck rings, which as you've had to unseize the engine isn't unexpected. You could try a squirt of oil down each bore and retest the compression as that should give it some initially. this might be enough to get it to fire up and then leave it running to get a good heat cycle in it. Failing that, soaking the bores down with paraffin could work (or even vinegar) to try and free them up.

[@malcolmharvey397]

The rings are stuck, so squirt a small amount of Castro D in boars and it will run. Make sure you let it run for a long time and the rings will let go

[@jeffmee763]

We used to put a brake booster on the brakes work so much better the old one as not got a lot off compression do a test It we be valves leaking a regrind.

[@nickb5391]

@49.47, Kim's a nice guy, met him many time

[@fattossa]

I bet the rings are stuck in the pistons to, where its been sitting for years.

[@johntovey3928]

In your case, with time being an issue, a re-built engine is the way to go. If I was in England I would do it for you .

[@damo690]

You fidnt take the valve cover off and check for stuck valves. I'd try that first before anything else

[@harrymorton1274]

There was no compression from the start when you listened to the engine being turned over. Easy engine to rebuild.

[@darrylmcleman6456]

It cranks too fast! Not enough compression! CHEERS from HERE!

[@matthewjones9733]

If you can't start any petrol engine it comes down to these things petrol air spark or compretion . You have petrol and spark check air and then sort out compretion . Eliminate these one by one and it will start . Keep going with it and you will sucseed .

[@robertwilliams1147]

Possible heagasket or valves stuck why take engine out yet ???

[@AlanLitchfield]

Put oil in cilinders that give you more compression.

[@JustAlanJohn]

Goldseal engine recon these A35 would do 35/40 MPG

[@JaysElectronicTinkerShack]

awesome i say stuck valves as shes popping out fumes from the carb taske the rocker cover offf load em upo with w d40 tap em down gently with a hammer and work em bk and forth it will run its a a series lol if i didnt live so far away id come and help lol

[@UKBarnFinds]

I’ve been tapping away this week and am getting there. One of them is still solid, but I’m a stubborn so-and-so. 😂

[@JaysElectronicTinkerShack]

@@UKBarnFinds ​​⁠ye just make sure by looking down the plug hole that the piston is way down in the bore it might be being a pain as the piston is near the top and touching the piston lol bit of warm diesel and atf fluid mixed to gather won’t hurt it

[@johnlewin5277]

Just take the rockers off, and push the valves with a screwdriver handle and douse in oil first!

[@lucythemoggy1970]

if the trunking is the same as the morris minor it is available

[@raymondpearce5245]

Put it up for sale if you got to much on you have got a great little A30 in the black one love your video guys

[@UKBarnFinds]

I know what you mean, as the black one is cool, but we won’t be selling PPW. At the very least, she’ll be a trailered ‘show car’ for us. It would be nice to, at least, drive the car on and off the trailer, though. Reading the comments, I’m hopeful we’ll get there one day. I probably need a few days off in the meantime, just to clear my head and work on some other stuff 😂

[@nickb5391]

@31.30, it seems to quick off the mark for an 803cc, 99% sure it's had a 948cc put in it

[@UKBarnFinds]

I’ll take a look at the engine number tomorrow.

[@philcarter3789]

Hi might be just compression rings are stuck

[@AbdulHafeez-cq6oo]

Check CB point and its make Break system

[@G7IQJUK]

GOOD OLD bmc A/B sereis engines

[@Richie65afc]

I would have thought you would have got a reading on at least one cylinder, so I think there is something else going on there. Valves are stuck or timing chain broken.

[@robertdunnett5022]

Mmmm sorry! Petrol smell 😂. Up there with methanol smell from speedway bikes at Foxhall Heath on a Thursday night 👍🏻😂

[@UKBarnFinds]

All the years I’ve been going to Foxhall, and even sponsoring a formula for the past few seasons, I’ve still never been to speedway! I really ought to sort it in 2024.

[@robertdunnett5022]

Ohhhhhhh Speedway. Crazy. I’m as old at the little A 30. 1955 my dad took me there when I was 4. Then became a regular in the 70is but the speedway smell 🤭

[@robertdunnett5022]

Love your show. Brilliant 👍🏻

[@johnbarr09]

After 7 minutes in I was going to comment but waited till end, you'll have to take that old fuel out it'll have gone off years ago also if you take the rocker cover off and tap the valves they might move again with same lube at worse take head off it's an easy job on those cars

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thanks, John. Reading through all the comments, it does look like we have options before deciding on taking the engine out. We appreciate the help. This is why I said to Claire it’s best not to rush in now. It may be that all is not lost just yet. KZbin has been a great source of help.

[@dave.harmon]

I reckon you've lost that black one mate. Claire has claimed it 😂

[@dave.harmon]

Definitely hasn't got any compression, but the rings should free off once you get it running and a couple of heat cycles through it. Give me a shout if you want a hand, I'll pop round in the Avenger

[@UKBarnFinds]

Careful now Dave…I might claim your Avenger too! 😂 - Claire

[@dave.harmon]

@@UKBarnFinds 😂

[@keithclements5148]

Could be piston rings stuck in the groove or even broken.

[@michaelmayo3127]

The Black car is on its second engine. Its a Morris rebuild.The ignition needs tobe timed and it probably hasn't had a new capacitor in years. Weak spark, well it' more about the spark duration than anything else, the duration of the spark is determined by the F-value of the capacitor; E.g F determines the number on microseconds it takes, for the capacitor to discharge. The ignition points determine the capacitor charge load, too wide a gap over-charge, too small a gap under-charge.The right gap gives a good fuel burn. Then you have to check for ignition's advancement and retardation, too advanced and the engine will knock=fuel-gas not fully compressed when ignited. Retarded= fuel-gas is ignited too many crankshaft-degrees, after full compression.

[@bobrice3957]

Stuck valves. Head off and give them a grind. You may be lucky and just need to free them and once the engine fires the rings will free up too,

[@ianmitchell3725]

Put it aside wrap it up do not leave it outside. Grass kills them you might find a better engine somewhere.