Barn Find Classic Car: What to Check Before You Start It

Written by Petro Olekhnovych, mobile mechanic in Aylesham, Kent

The most important thing with a barn find car is not to try starting it straight away. After years of standing, the engine can be dry, the fuel stale and the brakes seized, so cranking it as found can do real damage. Check that the engine turns by hand, renew the oil and fuel, and get the brakes working before it moves under its own power.

Why you should not just turn the key

A car that has stood for years is not the same car it was when it was parked. Oil drains away from the parts that need it. Rubber hoses and seals dry out. Fuel breaks down.

Honest John Classics, answering a reader with a car that had stood for 18 years, warns that too much friction on first cranking can snap the piston rings. Their advice is to remove the spark plugs and lubricate the cylinder bores before you try to turn it over.

An American restoration guide goes further. It says the acids in old engine oil may have attacked the crankshaft bearings, and calls starting a long-stored car without a major service “a big, costly, dangerous mistake”.

Step 1: check the engine turns by hand

With the plugs out and a little oil in each bore, try turning the engine by hand on the crank pulley nut. It should turn smoothly.

If it will not turn, do not force it and do not use the starter motor to try to free it. Honest John Classics suggests soaking the bores and trying again later. If it still will not move, the engine may need stripping. That is a job for a workshop, and we do classic engine rebuilds in a Kent workshop.

Step 2: renew the oil, filters and other fluids

Once the engine turns freely, change the oil and filter before running it. The same restoration guide says the fluids in the engine, gearbox, cooling system and differential will all need replacing on a car that has stood for years.

Check the coolant too. Look for leaks under the car once fluids are back in, because hoses may have perished while it stood.

Step 3: deal with the old fuel

Do not try to run the engine on fuel that has sat in the tank for years.

Hagerty explains that ethanol in modern petrol is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water from the air. Water can then build up in the tank, fuel lines and carburettor. Hagerty’s advice for long-term storage is to drain the tank or leave only a minimal amount of fuel in it, so expect to drain whatever is in there.

Honest John Classics also recommends cleaning or replacing the fuel lines and checking the tank for corrosion. Footman James adds that some older fuel system materials can degrade with ethanol. If you plan to run the car on modern fuel, read our guide to classic cars and E10 petrol first.

Step 4: get the brakes working before it moves

Brakes are the biggest safety risk on a barn find. The restoration guide says the hydraulic brakes will need to be rebuilt on a car that has stood for years.

Carwow, citing the RAC, explains that brake fluid absorbs moisture over time. That lowers its boiling point and can cause a spongy pedal. Fluid that has sat for years should be replaced, and seized cylinders or calipers dealt with.

Do not drive or tow a barn find on the road until the brakes have been checked properly. Even a short trip on failed brakes is dangerous.

Step 5: check the tyres by age, not just tread

Tyres on a barn find can look fine and still be unsafe. Pirelli says tyres have no fixed expiry date, but warns that the weakening effect of the years is inevitable for all tyres.

You can find the age in the last four digits of the DOT code on the sidewall. The first two digits are the week and the last two are the year, so 0517 means week 5 of 2017. A three-digit code means the tyre was made before 2000. On most barn finds, plan on new tyres before road use.

The legal side before you drive it

If the car is not taxed and insured, it needs a SORN and must be kept off the road. GOV.UK says that with a SORN you can only drive it on a public road to or from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment. Using it on the road for any other reason can bring a fine of up to £2,500. You cannot transfer a SORN from the previous keeper, so you need to make your own.

If the car is over 40 years old, it may be exempt from the MOT. The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs points out that it must still be kept fully roadworthy. See our guide to historic vehicle MOT exemption for the details.

How we can help

We are a mobile mechanic, so we come to the car. That suits a barn find, because you do not want to move it on the road before it is safe. We cover Aylesham, Canterbury, Dover, Deal, Sandwich, Folkestone and the villages around them. See the full list on our areas we cover page.

We do classic and vintage car servicing and repair, and recommissioning of cars that have been laid up. We can check the engine turns, change the oil and filters, and find out what the brakes and fuel system need.

Labour is £30-£50 per hour depending on the job. Parts are extra. We agree the price with you on WhatsApp before any work starts.

Frequently asked questions

Can I just put a fresh battery in and try it?
Not before checking the engine turns by hand and changing the oil. Cranking a dry engine risks damaging the piston rings and bearings.

Can I drive my barn find home if it has a SORN?
No. With a SORN you can only drive it on a public road to or from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment.

My barn find is over 40 years old. Does it need an MOT?
It may be exempt if it has not been substantially changed in the last 30 years. It still has to be roadworthy.

Is a seized engine the end of it?
Not always. Sometimes soaking the bores frees it. If not, the engine may need a strip and rebuild.

Need help? Send a WhatsApp to 07563 350335 with your car’s make and model and we’ll come to you.

Sources

• GOV.UK: When you need to make a SORN
• GOV.UK: Historic (classic) vehicles MOT exemption criteria
• FBHVC: Historic Vehicle Tax and MoT, the 40-year rule
• Honest John Classics: Recommissioning a car that’s been standing for 18 years
• AutoRestorer: How should I wake up a vehicle after years of storage?
• Hagerty UK: Don’t suffer fuels
• Footman James: Guide to E10 and your classic vehicle
• Carwow: How often should you change brake fluid?
• Pirelli: Tyre DOT code, what it is and how to read it