Alternative horn button for an F1

whirnot

whirnot

Well-known member
I am putting rack and pinion steering in my wife's 51 F1.
Obviously the stock horn button isn't going to work, and mounting a button on the side of the column just looks cheesey. Anyone ever see an alternative location that works well?
 
Why not run it up the new column you are using and use the horn button on the new column/steering wheel?
 
If you are running a stock column you have a couple of options. If you are not using the stock push button for the starter you can use it for the horn button. The next option is to take a look at Limeworks Hotrod Works. They make an adapter kit that goes inside the stock column so you can use the stock horn button. I'm going to use their kit on a early F-100 column mated to a Saginaw steering box in my '40.
 
When I bought my F1 the horn button was just a push button on the dash next to the key/ignition. I changed it back to steering wheel.
 
I did as TJ mentioned and used the no longer needed starter button on the dash in my 52 F!. Chap
 
I should clarify, I am using the original column on the interior, and wheel. Since the shaft goes to a ujoint, it is impossible to use the wire inside the column. I had thought of a dash mount button, but thought someone might have seen a head slapper!
 
Here's what I did on my truck based wooidie and my tonner panel, soon to do on my 47 tonner pickup. Period Ford starter relay as a horn relay. The center (small) post is activated when grounded. I mounted the relay on the back of the horns, ran the small ground wire up the windshield pillar and out through a hole in the header. Ground it to some bare metal and HONK. I made a simple wooden rocker switch that connected with ground on the windshield header, although a store-bought spring toggle switch would work and ran a nylon cord attached to a point over the rear window. Reach up with your right arm, yank the loop of the cord down, HONK! In last years july 4th parade I couldn't keep my grand kids away from it. Both trucks have very loud dual horns. Something about the overhead yank of the trucker's horns. I highly recommend it for a truck.
 
Use a Starter Floor Switch like this. Install it in the floor to the left of your pedals....


0000024345_0035000400.JPG
 
petehoovie said:
Use a Starter Floor Switch like this. Install it in the floor to the left of your pedals....


0000024345_0035000400.JPG
Click to expand...

But on a '51 with the floor mount hi-lo- beam switch, how do you tell them apart? My feet are so wide I'd flash them the hi-beams and honk at them at the same time......
 
I added a slip ring above the J-joint with a contact(stationary and insulated)). ran the wire down thru the u-joint, out to the slip ring. wire attached to the contact went to the horn relay. worked for 24 yrs on my '41.
 
GB SISSON said:
Here's what I did on my truck based wooidie and my tonner panel, soon to do on my 47 tonner pickup. Period Ford starter relay as a horn relay. The center (small) post is activated when grounded. I mounted the relay on the back of the horns, ran the small ground wire up the windshield pillar and out through a hole in the header. Ground it to some bare metal and HONK. I made a simple wooden rocker switch that connected with ground on the windshield header, although a store-bought spring toggle switch would work and ran a nylon cord attached to a point over the rear window. Reach up with your right arm, yank the loop of the cord down, HONK! In last years july 4th parade I couldn't keep my grand kids away from it. Both trucks have very loud dual horns. Something about the overhead yank of the trucker's horns. I highly recommend it for a truck.
Click to expand...
That's it. Perfect!
 
I´ve used the slipring from an alternator drilled a small hole in the steering shaft teflon insulated wire soldered to the slipring attached to the hornbutton.
Used the type of brushes that screws sideways into the generator fitted nicely to column.
Everything was hidden under dash so no need for a picture perfect installation.
Slipring was from a truckalternator and fitted perfectly over the shaft with a dab of epoxi to fix it.
 
Thanks for the ideas everyone. I really like GB Sissons idea of the pull switch. Unique. Cole Hershey makes a momentary contact pull switch that should fit the bill. I love the idea of the trucker style horn. Much better than the dash or foot mount.
 
I couldn't find the Limeworks kit the first time I looked.
Found it this time. Does look like a good solution. As much as I like the trucker style horn cord, it is her truck and it is best to have the horn where you expect it.
Thank you
 
Wanted to say thanks for the suggestion of the Limeworks setup. I put it in today and it is a pretty slick setup. Pretty easy if you have the column out and apart anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top