73 Horn Relay

[William M.]

Does anyone have a picture of a correct '73 horn relay?
I bought a supposedly NOS part # 3996283 in the box and it was judged "not typical factory production" at the N.E. Regional.
I've also seen part # 6273328 - is that a later service replacement for 3996283?

[Edward J.]

Re: 73 Horn Relay

Bill. I Don't Know If The 73 Is The Same As My Late 72 Its Square,
Natural Metal With A Plastic Mounting Tab & Black Plastic Base,

The Gm Replacement Has A White Plastic Base And A Metal Mounting Bracket Spot Welded To It.

[Tom H.]

Re: 73 Horn Relay

Hi William !

Here's the one from my 16000 mile 73. VIN # 11092. I believe it to be original. Hope this helps.

[William M.]

Re: 73 Horn Relay

Hi William !

Here's the one from my 16000 mile 73. VIN # 11092. I believe it to be original. Hope this helps.

Mine looks the same, except it's mounted with 5/16" hex heads with "Z" markings.

[Joe L.]

Re: 73 Horn Relay

Does anyone have a picture of a correct '73 horn relay?
I bought a supposedly NOS part # 3996283 in the box and it was judged "not typical factory production" at the N.E. Regional.
I've also seen part # 6273328 - is that a later service replacement for 3996283?

William------


The GM #3996283 was used for the entire 1972 model year. However, I don't think it was used for the entire 1973 model year. I believe it was replaced at some point, probably fairly early, by the GM #6273328.

The GM #6273328 replaced the GM #3996283 for SERVICE in July, 1973. Then, and very unusually, the GM #3996283 replaced the GM #6273328 in November, 1977. The GM #3996283 was finally discontinued without supercession in August, 1995.

Notwithstanding any of the above, there is a high probability that both the 3996283 and the 6273328 changed in minor ways over the years of their manufacture. If you had purchased a 3996283 or 6273328 in SERVICE back in the mid-70's, the chances are that it would have been identical to the PRODUCTION parts. Later, things sometimes change. So, it depends on just how old the "O" is in "NOS". That's often the "fly in the ointment".

[Joe L.]

Re: 73 Horn Relay

Hi William !

Here's the one from my 16000 mile 73. VIN # 11092. I believe it to be original. Hope this helps.

Tom----


The relay could very well be original. However, I don't think that attaching screw is.

[Tom H.]

Re: 73 Horn Relay

Tom----


The relay could very well be original. However, I don't think that attaching screw is.

You are probably right. Seems we had it off at one time when I was cleaning things up. Probably used screws I had in the drawer back then. That was a long time ago ! I'm fairly certain the relay is the original. Anybody got a picture of the original fasteners................ I better dig them out !!!

[Jack H.]

Re: 73 Horn Relay

There were at least TWO recognized suppliers of the 399628 horn relay in '72-73: Essex and Littlefuse. While the different parts function alike, their geometry and external cosmetics vary. BEWARE the NCRS judge who thinks there was only one correct/original part!

Here are pix of both parts. The Essex part has the white plastic insulator on the bottom side while the Littlefuse part uses a black plastic system. Pin out positions are different but wiring harness connectors can only plug in one way.

[John P.]

Re: 73 Horn Relay

The pictures Jack has posted are of the 2 relays I would expect to see.They both seem to have been used interchangably and with close to equal frequency.