66 Years With The 52 Merc

RalphG

RalphG

Well-known member
Thursday, October 16th marked 66 years since my dad bought the 52 Merc. It served us well for just about ten years before becoming almost impossible to start due to low compression and burned valves. My brother brought it back to life in 1979 with new pistons, rings and a valve grind but it got parked and forgotten as life went on. Ten years ago this month I brought it out of retirement and its been a great decade.
I took it out for a drive on the 16th to mark the day.
https://youtu.be/z_M3HkIjXYE
 

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only a couple months left to commemorate the anniversary and ♫ Get Your Kicks On Route 66 ♫

a classic 12-bar-blues format tune written by Bobby Troupe while on a trip from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles in 1946. Chicago would probably be the closest starting point, but the "route 66" vibe is pretty weak there.

original 1946 Nat King Cole Trio version...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRX_NZ7kTt0&list=RDuRX_NZ7kTt0&start_radio=1
 
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Another great ride and trhanks for not repainting this historical relic. Sounds nice too. What's your exhaust system? Rusted off muffler? Straight pipe? Glass pack? I have a cheap napa generic round muffler on my 276 woodie and it sounds about like my dad's falcon wagon with a 200 six. Boring!
 
The exhaust system on the Merc is nothing but straight pipe from the manifolds to the rear bumper. Some of it is original pipe. I have not any noise complaints on it and really its not too loud unless its revved up or working hard. The interior is a little noisier than it used to be as the headliner fabric was destroyed by mice and raccoons during it's decades in the woods.
 
GB SISSON said:
Y pipe on manifolds into single exhaust pipe correct?
Click to expand...

Not quite a "y pipe" on these. There is a crossover pipe from the left manifold around the front of the engine below the water pumps. Joins up to the front of the right exhaust manifold right where the heat riser valve is located. From there its all straight through the right side manifold and straight pipe to the rear bumper.
 
I think I will slip away from the cabinetshop tomorrow and saw that muffler off. Thanks for the inspiration Ralph.
 
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