barn find in hay and straw

[ken hecht]

A 1940 Taylorcraft BL65, has wind damage, leading edge wings in straw and hay, and raccoons and mice dropping in the area. What would the fair price for this project be? Need help to make a fair price? Been stored in the barn for about 16 years.

[astjp2]

Re: barn find in hay and straw

With engine, 4k, without, 3k

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: barn find in hay and straw

Without seeing it I think you may be being generous. Sixteen years covered in hay in a barn that has mice and raccoons in it? The range of conditions could be from a gold mine find to more expensive to drag out and burn than it is worth. This is one of those cases where the seller REALLY needs to pull everything out, blow out all the straw with a leaf blower and take a good look. Even if it is pretty much junk posting some photos will get you some offers for the funky stuff that is hard to find (the little trim pieces and handles that are so hard to find). If it is a jewel, who knows?

Hank

I am hoping for a real barn find!

[Mark Bowden]

Re: barn find in hay and straw

Just a couple comments for consideration, hope it helps. Pics would help.

If the barn has a good roof and the hay is dry with no rot & no livestock, then corrosion and critter damage is less likely as there's no water/food for critters. Then it is just likely nest and gnawing damage if any & spot urine corrosion.

Any barn find, first offer should be to just haul it off for $1.00. Consider the work effort/health risk/cost just to get it extracted.

Does the Lyc turn over? A core BL65 that could be repaired (not overhauled) back to running could be worth the effort.

What is the definition of wind damage? How much restoration work can you do yourself?

Even if it was in your barn, engine overhaul 10-12K, shop recover, >10K, structural & system repairs ? and AD compliance? Working, decent to nice Tcrafts are listed in the high teens - high 20's for sale.

For reference there is a really badly bent, nose over '41 on Barnstormers asking $6,800, thus this is likely less.
Also listed what looks like a super nice '41 C65 for $19.8K and a flyable ??? '41 BL65 listed for only $9K.

Barn finds are just romance as this isn't a 1/1, 1/100 or warbird find. Until you can get some A&P/IA eyeballs on the structural damage, it is unfortunately and realistically scrap. The key to any price above scrap is possibly if the engine isn't seized.

But if you want a project to work on... then it can have much more personal value than cost. And gets another Tcraft airworthy.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: barn find in hay and straw

Mark has it right. I REALLY love to bring one back to life, but you also can't really make money on one, even when it is free (and do a decent job). That said DO DO NOT scrap her out! EVERYTHING depends on what shape she is in. Even a total junk heap full of mice and rust will have some value to someone. Just the excess wing rib material is of value to someone rebuilding a pre-war wing!
I am still hoping this is a jewel in the hay! Please post some photos so we can identify and start calling out the parts that have value here. Take your time before you sell and be sure of what you have.

Hank