The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Seeking Horn Recommendations - 1952 3100

Want to find a modern-day, 12 volt horn for my 52 3100 that would NOT make my truck sound like a modern-day truck... trying to preserve the sound of a stock 3100 while moving the horn(s) to the space between radiator and front grill. Got any ideas? Thanks.

I bought a pair (hi and low tone) 12 volt plastic horns off the shelf at O'Reillys 13 years ago. They sound like American horns from the late 50s through 80s.

The wiring scheme for your original horn was always on battery voltage to one terminal on the horn. A wire connected to the other terminal ran back up through the steering column and connected to the horn switch in the steering wheel. When the horn button was pushed it supplied a ground and the horn made noise.

More modern cars/trucks did it this way instead.
Always on battery voltage was connected to one terminal on a horn relay (usually mounted on the engine side of the firewall).
A second terminal on the relay connected to the horn(s) which had a ground supplied by the mounting bracket (some had a separate ground wire).
A wire connected to the third terminal on the relay ran up through the steering column to the horn switch in the steering wheel.
When the horn button was pushed it supplied a ground for the relay.
The relay pulled in and supplied voltage to the horn(s) making noise.

Here is the relay I used.
Horns like this should work.

Didn't the '52 3100 have a single horn mounted on the exhaust manifold like the one below? If so, the dual tone horns described by Bill and me absolutely will NOT sound like the original single tone Chevy horn pictured below.

The original horn is closer in sound to a 60s-70s VW Beetle horn. So if you want a stock horn sound, the dual tone snail horns aren't it.

If you want the dual tone sound and have a Pull-A-Part or similar junk yard near you, Ford F-150 horns (hi and lo) from the 1970s through the 1990s have the old car sound like Bill describes. They are snail horns and are made in metal and plastic depending on the year truck you find. The sound is identical, however.

The plastic horns that Bill has are available brand new anywhere for about $20/pair so if that's the sound you want, check ebay.

Bill and Otto... thanks for the perspectives and pointers. The original horn I had was just like Otto's picture. I donated it to another Stovebolter. I happen to have a 69 VW (unregistered at the moment), so when the weather improves, I will uncover it and remind myself of what it sounds like. If not loud enough, I will be off to O'Reilly's!!

Hahaha! That's perfect! The original 6v horn could have been safely used with 12v. It would have been VERY loud.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/306491641260

I still have your horn if you want it back. I don't need it and haven't found anyone yet who needs one to give it to.
I'll even check to see if it works and strip the red paint off of it and paint it black for you. It will likely fit between the radiator and the front grill.

Carl; Thanks for the offer, however, I wanna go much more compact than the original. I am sure that ole horn will someday find a good home with another originalist like you!

FYI here are the horns I bought for my 53 3100. If I remember right they were a little pricey but very nice.

Go to NAPA, # 730-1624, high & low note replacement horn set. Plenty loud and easy to mount.

I just completed the wiring on my 47 AD truck to 12v and the original horn was sounding horrible. I installed the regulator two days ago and it brought the horn back to its original sound. Works instant and keeps that classic feel.


https://www.amazon.com/MGGi-Converter-Regulator-Transformer-Waterproof/dp/B0D4ZHWBR1?th=1&psc=1

I don't understand what the "regulator" is used for on your truck. The specs say that it reduces 18 to 60 volts DC down to 12 volts DC at a maximum of 20 amps.

Might be the selection on the link I posted. Here is the description

DC/DC Voltage Reducer Converter Regulator 12V 24V Step Down to 5V 20A 100W, Converter Regulator Power Supply Module Buck Transformer for Golf Cart Forklifts Car Vehicle, Aluminum

That's better.