The Ford Barn

RalphG · 10-19-2025, 08:19 PM

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

mercman from oz · 10-19-2025, 08:57 PM

Congratulations Ralph on your 66 years of owning this 1952 Mercury

hueyhoolihan · 10-19-2025, 11:22 PM

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_...&start_radio=1

cas3 · 10-19-2025, 11:38 PM

Happy Birthday Ralph...sorta!

RalphG · 10-20-2025, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cas3

Happy Birthday Ralph...sorta!

Thanks..Pretty close as mine was on the 14th.

mfirth · 10-20-2025, 10:25 AM

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Happy Anniversary & Birthday Ralph. Always like your stuff and "The Merc".

19Fordy · 10-20-2025, 10:57 AM

WELL DONE RALPH. Your dad would be proud.

GB SISSON · 10-20-2025, 03:49 PM

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!

Anteek29 · 10-20-2025, 04:03 PM

Sweet sounding exhaust...whatcha got making that music?

RalphG · 10-20-2025, 07:26 PM

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 · 10-20-2025, 07:53 PM

Y pipe on manifolds into single exhaust pipe correct?

RalphG · 10-20-2025, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

Y pipe on manifolds into single exhaust pipe correct?

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.

cas3 · 10-20-2025, 10:34 PM

It does sound nice, Ralph

GB SISSON · 10-20-2025, 11:18 PM

I think I will slip away from the cabinetshop tomorrow and saw that muffler off. Thanks for the inspiration Ralph.

richard crow · 10-21-2025, 01:01 AM

i got my wife 66 years it must of been a good time to do things

Merc Cruzer · 10-21-2025, 11:07 AM

Flatheads Merc's always sound great! Great video as always.

RalphG · 10-21-2025, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merc Cruzer

Flatheads Merc's always sound great! Great video as always.

Thanks. I've watched your Mercury driving videos more than once. Beautiful car and scenery you have there.

10-19-2025, 08:57 PM	#2
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 12,568	Re: 66 Years With The 52 Merc Congratulations Ralph on your 66 years of owning this 1952 Mercury

10-19-2025, 11:22 PM	#3
hueyhoolihan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2024 Location: central coast california Posts: 593	Re: 66 Years With The 52 Merc 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_...&start_radio=1 Last edited by hueyhoolihan; 10-20-2025 at 01:23 AM.

10-19-2025, 11:38 PM	#4
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Beverly Kansas Posts: 5,557	Re: 66 Years With The 52 Merc Happy Birthday Ralph...sorta!

10-20-2025, 10:25 AM	#6
mfirth Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: ohio Posts: 1,165	Re: 66 Years With The 52 Merc Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Happy Anniversary & Birthday Ralph. Always like your stuff and "The Merc".

10-20-2025, 10:57 AM	#7
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 11,916	Re: 66 Years With The 52 Merc WELL DONE RALPH. Your dad would be proud.

10-20-2025, 03:49 PM	#8
GB SISSON Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Orcas Island Washington Posts: 6,202	Re: 66 Years With The 52 Merc 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! __________________ Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1946 Tonner Pickup with 226 H six, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, now wearing 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)

10-20-2025, 04:03 PM	#9
Anteek29 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Santa Maria, CA Posts: 1,025	Re: 66 Years With The 52 Merc Sweet sounding exhaust...whatcha got making that music? __________________ Alan 1929 Special Coupe 1941 Pick-Up 1955 Victoria

10-20-2025, 07:26 PM	#10
RalphG Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Sask. Canada Posts: 2,619	Re: 66 Years With The 52 Merc 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. __________________ https://www.youtube.com/user/roosty6/videos

10-20-2025, 07:53 PM	#11
GB SISSON Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Orcas Island Washington Posts: 6,202	Re: 66 Years With The 52 Merc Y pipe on manifolds into single exhaust pipe correct? __________________ Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1946 Tonner Pickup with 226 H six, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, now wearing 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)

10-20-2025, 10:34 PM	#13
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Beverly Kansas Posts: 5,557	Re: 66 Years With The 52 Merc It does sound nice, Ralph

10-20-2025, 11:18 PM	#14
GB SISSON Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Orcas Island Washington Posts: 6,202	Re: 66 Years With The 52 Merc I think I will slip away from the cabinetshop tomorrow and saw that muffler off. Thanks for the inspiration Ralph. __________________ Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1946 Tonner Pickup with 226 H six, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, now wearing 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)

10-21-2025, 01:01 AM	#15
richard crow Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,908	Re: 66 Years With The 52 Merc i got my wife 66 years it must of been a good time to do things

10-21-2025, 11:07 AM	#16
Merc Cruzer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Conifer, Colorado Posts: 2,552	Re: 66 Years With The 52 Merc Flatheads Merc's always sound great! Great video as always.