Horn relay

Snouts out

Senior Member
I know this is a long shot,but were can you get a nos horn relay for a1938 ford standard? The repo one looks like it requires rewireing.I don't like messing with anything faster then me,and electricity is much faster!
 

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There are three connections to the horn relay: power, horn, and horn button, and should be marked on the case. The headlight relay wasn't added until '39, unless you had a late '38. Horns draw lots of power, and it is a good idea to add one if your car isn't so equipped. It protects the wiring and horn button or ring.
 
The standard model I have is early,21 stud. As per the wiring diagram,all 38 models had horn relays.The 64 dollar question is,does someone recondition the original,or can you repair them yourself?See photo.
 

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As long as the coil is OK you should be able to rebuild it. I think you can still buy a similar relay from Napa. G.M.
 
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Is it possible that the horn relay you have is an add on? Nether the installation, wiring or the part look correct.
 
My 1939 pickup does not have a horn relay and I don't think the 39 Standard had a relay. The 39 delux had a relay, but it also had a voltage regulator to up date the wiring also.
 
JSeery,yes it's stock, has a square hole in frame for mounting !

Interesting. I have a 38 standard but pulled the wire harness out several years ago (it was trashed) and can't remember if it had a horn relay or not! I will be very interested in how this turns out. You would believe with all of the 38 owners on here someone would have a good photo of the relay. It is just odd that ford would use that type of relay for only one year and then switch to the more common style unless they were having an issue with it.
 
Well lets see if someone can sort this out. The relay is listed as 39 under model with note, except 39 std. Then under years it list 38-40.
 

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Well lets see if someone can sort this out. The relay is listed as 39 under model with note, except 39 std. Then under years it list 38-40.
I have restored two '39 standards (VERY high point cars) and both had voltage regulators and horn relays. yes, quite authentic to both cars.
This is "one of those things" that has had a lot of misinformation disseminated about it.
Mid '39 all '39 Fords started to get a voltage regulator.
 
I have restored two '39 standards (VERY high point cars) and both had voltage regulators and horn relays. yes, quite authentic to both cars.
This is "one of those things" that has had a lot of misinformation disseminated about it.
Mid '39 all '39 Fords started to get a voltage regulator.

Any idea if the horn relays and voltage regulators appeared at the same time? And you are saying mid 39, does that rule out the horn relays on the early 39 and 38 standards? I really understand this changing through the year business, I have a 38 std and lots of parts changed through the production year! So much so that almost nothing you read on them is correct, lots of engine changes alone.
 
Any idea if the horn relays and voltage regulators appeared at the same time? And you are saying mid 39, does that rule out the horn relays on the early 39 and 38 standards? I really understand this changing through the year business, I have a 38 std and lots of parts changed through the production year! So much so that almost nothing you read on them is correct, lots of engine changes alone.
As many of us actually realize, running changes happened at different times at different plants.
It is difficult to pin down dates when changes occurred. It is fairly easy to find out when a certain part or design change was approved for assembly but the actual date(s) - that's another story.
 
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