1960 Horn Relay

[Stewart A.]

I have a 1960 car, build date Nov 1959.
Horn relay stuffed. Its a 781 horn relay. When bolted down I can see the 781 stamping on the relay bracket. I was going to buy one off Vet Gal but the stamp is on the back of the relay bracket when bolted down which is correct. Anyone with a top flight car out there can you help ! Can you have a wee peek at your car and tell me which is correct. I dont want to buy the wrong part. Pretty please!!

[Mike E.]

Re: 1960 Horn Relay

Get the one with the 781 showing.

[Stewart A.]

Re: 1960 Horn Relay

Mike the guy at Vet Gal said that when they made the relay they stamped it anywhere front or back as long as it was stamped there was no uniformity to the stamping ? Does that sound correct.

[Dennis C.]

1960 Horn Relay

I'd stick w/Mike's words of wisdom...

[Mike E.]

Re: 1960 Horn Relay

A great way to sell a part. A totally unbiased person, no doubt. Every original 60-62 I've looked at over the past 35 years (100's and 100's) had the stamping on the top. Service replacements were stamped either on the top or the bottom.

[Richard T.]

Re: 1960 Horn Relay

Horn relay part numbers stamped on top. Period

[Jack H.]

Re: 1960 Horn Relay

Relay apparently changed over time. Very early units I've taken off scrap yard cars had three versus five mounting holes. Also, these all had their covers painted black.

Later units may have covers simply plated zinc/cad without the black paint or painted black and have five vs. three mounting holes.

I've seen units embossed simply '781' as well as relays embossed '12V 781'. Sometimes the emboss is sloppy with embossed numbers obscured by the mounting holes.

Then, there's the issue of what the specific Judging Guide book says.... For '58-60, the call out is for the cover to be painted black and the relay to be embossed with '781' allowing the emboss to be on the top or the bottom side of the bracket.

For '61-62, the guidance is for MOST relays to have covers simply cad/zinc plated, but allows 'some' may have been painted black. Plus, the JG text calls for a '12V 781' emboss that's exclusively on the top (visible) side of the mounting bracket....

[Stewart A.]

Re: 1960 Horn Relay

Jack thanks for your response and photos thats brilliant.
You mentioned that you have taken a lot off cars in the past do you have any for sale. I can't seem to locate any 781's anywhere. The one in my car has the top knocked off it.

[Dennis C.]

1960 Horn Relay

HR '781's are out there. Check w/John Pirkle. Much more readily available than VR 002E's, etc... and a whole bunch cheaper... Best, Dennis

[Jack H.]

Re: 1960 Horn Relay

If your existing horn relay is a correctly configured '781 for the car and the only problem is the cover is dented/missing, why not just install a fresh cover?

ALL the horn relays from that era used the same basic crimp-on cover.... The design would change in later years to delete the 'split' in the center of the cover's crimp tabs that allowed the relay to vent trapped moisture. But, other than that early/late aspect of the cover, any scrap yard donor will substitute properly...