Horns: Can't find the correct replacement (wrong tone) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

MrC1 · 03-02-2009, 04:32 PM

My low tone burned out and I figured a parts store would have a standard, generic replacement. Found one that appeared right, installed and found that the "low" note is almost identical to the original "high" note.

I returned it and then tried out all the horns that the store carried by hooking them to a battery in the store (yes, that was fun). All of them were way too high in pitch.

Where do I get a true LOW note horn to replace the factory piece? Is this really that hard?

metalman1968 · 03-02-2009, 04:39 PM

One of those beep beep road runner horns would be cool. How about taking a 12 volt battery to your local wrecking yard and doing the same thing??????

oldblue1968chevy · 03-02-2009, 05:34 PM

makes me wanna go horn huntin lol mines not hooked up lol

cdowns · 03-02-2009, 05:42 PM

r u sure your original just doesnt need some love?? try spraying wd40 in the opening to break loose the crud and clean the diaphram and cleanup the mounting surfaces to assure good grounding to allow current flow all this helps to beep old horns to new lives

texanidiot25 · 03-02-2009, 05:53 PM

Old cadillacs have a nice low horn. I agree that even a modern truck horn (as I have) sounds weak.

Sammy · 03-02-2009, 06:37 PM

Any OLD GM vehicle stock equipped with two horns had a high/ low horn. One was marked H or L. Most newer stuff only came with one horn. Look for an old Impala or Caddy, or Buick.

ChevLoRay · 03-02-2009, 07:46 PM

Cadillac, as well as Buick and Olds, offered a third horn in the key of C, that when added to the other two horns, created a distinctive sound that I like. I added one of those to my '95 Ranger and loved the attention it created.

I picked up a pair of horns off of a late 70's GMC school bus. They, and the high-C horn are going on my truck.

MrC1 · 03-02-2009, 07:57 PM

Thanks for ll the nputs guys. I'll try to reply to most of the above here...

The horn button on my aftermarket steering wheel popped off and by the time I could get it shut off, the low horn burned up. It was HOT. I didn't try opening it up, but might try to fix it if this is going to be this tough.

I don't have a junk yard anywhere close. the closest is about 45 min away so I'd rather just lazily get it shipped to me or pick one up at a parts store.

lol

The horn I bought was one of two the store had on the shelf as a generic replacement. They had a Hi and a Lo. I figured they'd be the same. Hardly.

I looked in my LMC catalog and they list replacement horns the same way. How to know what they are though? I called and as expected, they have no idea.

Sinister · 03-02-2009, 08:12 PM

JC Whitney has a large selection of horns. I might go with this one when i get around to it. http://www.jcwhitney.com/FIAMM-LOW-T...2595_10101.jcw

71swb4x4 · 03-02-2009, 08:22 PM

Hit the pick-n-pull. It's rare that horns go out, so you shouldn't have much of a problem getting one out of the pick-n-pull.

thirdstreettito · 03-02-2009, 08:29 PM

Special-K has some OG horns for sale.

texanidiot25 · 03-02-2009, 09:01 PM

There's also a yard near me with a few 67-72s. dunno if they've got their horns, but I can look.

ED67C20 · 03-02-2009, 11:42 PM

My 67 has only 1 horn and it's dead. Is it supposed to have only 1? ED67C20

03-02-2009, 04:32 PM	#1
MrC1 Dork For Days Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 407	Horns: Can't find the correct replacement (wrong tone) My low tone burned out and I figured a parts store would have a standard, generic replacement. Found one that appeared right, installed and found that the "low" note is almost identical to the original "high" note. I returned it and then tried out all the horns that the store carried by hooking them to a battery in the store (yes, that was fun). All of them were way too high in pitch. Where do I get a true LOW note horn to replace the factory piece? Is this really that hard? __________________ 1972 C20, 402/700R4 - My first classic truck, bought in September 2005. 85% transformed from "Farm" to "Cool" status! 1970 Dodge Challenger 440, 4sp (my other toy) 12.67 @ 117 MPH, with a pathetic 2.022 60' 2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8 2008 Cadillac CTS All-American garage, baby! Last edited by MrC1; 03-02-2009 at 04:33 PM.

03-02-2009, 04:39 PM	#2
metalman1968 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: yakima wa. Posts: 95	Re: Horns: Can't find the correct replacement (wrong tone) One of those beep beep road runner horns would be cool. How about taking a 12 volt battery to your local wrecking yard and doing the same thing??????

03-02-2009, 05:34 PM	#3
oldblue1968chevy Grandpa in the rustmobile... Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Spokane WA/Viola TN Posts: 11,422	Re: Horns: Can't find the correct replacement (wrong tone) makes me wanna go horn huntin lol mines not hooked up lol __________________ John Goose-1968 C10 355,9.32-1CR, Vortec Heads ,262 voodoo, 3.73:1 3OTT (HS ride/beater/farm truck) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=317684 Grams 53-1953 Chevrolet Belair http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post4327784 1969 Chevy C10 Shortbed 4.5/6?" Frame off resto http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=548136 1999 Toyota Tacoma 4x4

03-02-2009, 05:42 PM	#4
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Horns: Can't find the correct replacement (wrong tone) r u sure your original just doesnt need some love?? try spraying wd40 in the opening to break loose the crud and clean the diaphram and cleanup the mounting surfaces to assure good grounding to allow current flow all this helps to beep old horns to new lives __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

03-02-2009, 05:53 PM	#5
texanidiot25 Eat My Rust Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 3,362	Re: Horns: Can't find the correct replacement (wrong tone) Old cadillacs have a nice low horn. I agree that even a modern truck horn (as I have) sounds weak.

03-02-2009, 06:37 PM	#6
Sammy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bonne Terre, Mo Posts: 3,005	Re: Horns: Can't find the correct replacement (wrong tone) Any OLD GM vehicle stock equipped with two horns had a high/ low horn. One was marked H or L. Most newer stuff only came with one horn. Look for an old Impala or Caddy, or Buick. __________________ '69 Chevy Long Fleet & '71 GMC Short Step & Project "ODD BALL" "You can wash a pig, soak it in most expensive perfume. In the end it is still just a pig." ODD BALL build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=478629"

03-02-2009, 07:46 PM	#7
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Horns: Can't find the correct replacement (wrong tone) Cadillac, as well as Buick and Olds, offered a third horn in the key of C, that when added to the other two horns, created a distinctive sound that I like. I added one of those to my '95 Ranger and loved the attention it created. I picked up a pair of horns off of a late 70's GMC school bus. They, and the high-C horn are going on my truck. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

03-02-2009, 07:57 PM	#8
MrC1 Dork For Days Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 407	Re: Horns: Can't find the correct replacement (wrong tone) Thanks for ll the nputs guys. I'll try to reply to most of the above here... The horn button on my aftermarket steering wheel popped off and by the time I could get it shut off, the low horn burned up. It was HOT. I didn't try opening it up, but might try to fix it if this is going to be this tough. I don't have a junk yard anywhere close. the closest is about 45 min away so I'd rather just lazily get it shipped to me or pick one up at a parts store. lol The horn I bought was one of two the store had on the shelf as a generic replacement. They had a Hi and a Lo. I figured they'd be the same. Hardly. I looked in my LMC catalog and they list replacement horns the same way. How to know what they are though? I called and as expected, they have no idea. __________________ 1972 C20, 402/700R4 - My first classic truck, bought in September 2005. 85% transformed from "Farm" to "Cool" status! 1970 Dodge Challenger 440, 4sp (my other toy) 12.67 @ 117 MPH, with a pathetic 2.022 60' 2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8 2008 Cadillac CTS All-American garage, baby!

03-02-2009, 08:12 PM	#9
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	Re: Horns: Can't find the correct replacement (wrong tone) JC Whitney has a large selection of horns. I might go with this one when i get around to it. http://www.jcwhitney.com/FIAMM-LOW-T...2595_10101.jcw __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...

03-02-2009, 08:22 PM	#10
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	Re: Horns: Can't find the correct replacement (wrong tone) Hit the pick-n-pull. It's rare that horns go out, so you shouldn't have much of a problem getting one out of the pick-n-pull. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

03-02-2009, 08:29 PM	#11
thirdstreettito Resident of Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel, FL, USA Posts: 7,716	Re: Horns: Can't find the correct replacement (wrong tone) Special-K has some OG horns for sale. __________________ ~Bradley~ 2004 Black GTO LS2/T56 too much to list Miss having a truck

03-02-2009, 09:01 PM	#12
texanidiot25 Eat My Rust Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 3,362	Re: Horns: Can't find the correct replacement (wrong tone) There's also a yard near me with a few 67-72s. dunno if they've got their horns, but I can look.

03-02-2009, 11:42 PM	#13
ED67C20 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: spokane, washington Posts: 37	Re: Horns: Can't find the correct replacement (wrong tone) My 67 has only 1 horn and it's dead. Is it supposed to have only 1? ED67C20



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