The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1948 chevy truck horn... on firewall???

I purchased a 1948 chevy 1/2 ton pickup truck to restore. I have been researching the horn and I've seen that the horn is mounted on the manifold. But my truck has a dual horn mounted on the firewall.

Pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chucklaw65/7224617886/in/photostream

Is this a dealer installed item? Or did the PO install it later on?

Thanks!
Chuck Law

Those horns look newer than 48. I would guess someone added them later.

I would say a previous owner installed those horns. My '49 had the manifold mounted single horn. It was common in the 50s and 60s to add extra horns for COOL. And, when 12 volts became common, it was trick to add 6 volt horns because they were so LOUD. At least until they burned out!!!

Looks like I'm in the market for a horn. Does anyone make a reproduction of it? 12 volt?

That style of dual horns (hi-note and low-note) was a GM accessory from 47-53. They were often attached near where the heater motor comes through the firewall.

They look right but it would be nice to see the mounting brackets and the other side of the horns, to determine if they are the GM accessory horns. Dual car horns were similar but they sometimes had different mounting brackets.

Here are installation instructions from 1951.

I took 13 pics at different angles. hopefully one of them will work.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chucklaw65/?saved=1

The mount is not right for the 47-53 truck mount (look at the installation instructions at the link above - each horn has a mounting bracket). I'd have to see the other side (the "flat" side) of the body of the horns, to see if it matches the GM horns.

Nonetheless, they look very much like the GM horns. Why not keep them? Do they work?

My '48 had the optional horns on it when I got it, and I, too, thought they were aftermarket and replaced them with a manifold mounted horn. As I reacall (it was 1990), they were mounted in different spots, in a 7:00 and 2:00 positions, in the middle of the firewall. It just didn't look right to me. I still have the horns somewhere.

Here is a picture of the factory horns and brackets from the 1951 Accessories filmstrip.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2465676350102454676PdnAfU
I have had two sets of factory horns on earlier trucks (48-mid-49) with a one piece bracket and the firewall relay correctly installed.
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2879999230102454676CXAeoJ
Compare and see the horns should also be marked with L & H for high/low tone if correct.

I didn't see an H or L on the horns. But after a closer inspection I did notice a couple of things. There is a small circle indented on the inner fender for clearance of the horn. About the size of a softball around and not very deep. Looks too perfect for a home mechanic to do just to install a horn. Also, the bracket seems to be welded to the firewall and not bolted. I'm not too sure but I think the bolts that are there hold the relay to the bracket. It's possible that the bolts hold the bracket and the relay. The original wires are also connected to the horn. I don't know if it works. Never tried it.

Chuck,
I have an NOS truck dual horn set that I mounted on my COE. Tim's picture is where they should be mounted. The instructions that came with my set show precise measurements where things are mounted. The wires that connect the horns to the relay are short and if you vary from the instructions they won't reach, so you have to follow the directions carefully.

Your horns look different than GM horns. For example, the horn wire comes out a relief in the cover and does not have the contacts as shown in your picture.

Unless you are looking for a factory correct restoration, I would argue those horns are part of your truck's history and you should see if they work, or fix them, and use 'em!
Kent

I;m not doing a complete factory restoration, but would like it to be as complete as possible. So if those horns are not factory or a GM accessory then I will replace them with a factory horn. The only thing I'm changing on the truck is 6 volt to 12 volt and a 235 engine that looks like a 216. I'll keep the original 216 engine in case I want to go back to all factory. I ordered a reproduction 1948 accessory booklet from Chevy's of the 40's. I'm hoping that it shows the horn.