Correct Horn Placement, 63'

[John A.]

Hi,
I have a question regarding the original placement of the horns on a 63. The JM states that 63 horns are to face downward when properly mounted. The horns in my car were slightly angled, much like the 64 horns, when I got the car, and they are correct PNs and date codes so I assume they were installed at the factory in this position. In fact after having the horns rebuilt, it looks like it would be almost impossible to orient them in the downward position without re-positioning the mounting brackets.
I have also spoken to a number of people with original cars that said their horns do not face downward. Is the downward position of the horns correct....or not?
Thanks, John

[Timothy B.]

Re: Correct Horn Placement, 63'

John,

I think the angled position is ok, I know this is discussed in the archives a few years ago.

[Tom H.]

Re: Correct Horn Placement, 63'

Hi John !

I believe your horns are mounted correctly. Mine are mounted the same way. The JG has the position listed incorrectly.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Correct Horn Placement, 63'

I agree with the angled placement. In truth, however, I only have one of my original horns on the car. The other is an old 6 volt horn that I put on back in the 60's when it was cool, and I keep it on for nostalgia. It's a high pitched crappy sound, but music to my ears of a day gone by.

Stu Fox

[Jack H.]

Re: Correct Horn Placement, 63'

Beware... It's my experience that the powers that be FIRMLY believe the orientation described in the JG are factory correct/original when it comes to 1963 horn orientation!

[Chuck W.]

Re: Correct Horn Placement, 63'

The description of horn placement and the accompanying picture (which is the AIM diagram) contained in the most recent JG for '63 horn placement is inconsistent and in fact impossible to achieve as described. The AIM indicates the driver side horn to be 9000456 Hi Note pointing inward in the down position. The AIM then shows the passenger horn to be 9000455 Low Note pointing inward in the down position. The written JG description counterdicts the AIM yet uses the AIM diagram as the example of placement. It would be impossible to position the Low Note horn on the driver side pointing inward in the down position and likewise the Hi Note horn on the passenger side pointing inward in the down position. It simply can't be done and look like the diagram.

The only debate could be whether they point inward or outward ie. reverse Hi & Low Notes (in contradiction to the AIM). Either way they would be in the near down position.

[John D.]

Re: Correct Horn Placement, 63'

Back to the horn thing again I see. Yeah it's an old CC thing. hahaha.
Story: At the Seven Springs Regional in 08 there were the usual long lineup of 63's., Only one brave soul in the whole bunch had his horns installed according to the 5th edition. And that was "Pappy" from NJ.(one of the gang here)
So I said to the nice fellow. Said just how is it you have your horns installed according to the 5th. He said he already got grabbed for the horn thing at another show so he switched them for Seven Springs.

Meanwhile lets forget about judging manuals and aims, etc. Let talk like we were music majors. Say you had two horns playing in your jazz band. Would you aim the two trumpets,etc toward one another or would you aim the two trumpets away from one another??? Of course you would point the trumpets AWAY from one another. How do I know that? Cause I played sax, clarinet, etc in many jazz bands over the years. JD

[Chuck W.]

Re: Correct Horn Placement, 63'

Back to the horn thing again I see. Yeah it's an old CC thing. hahaha.
Story: At the Seven Springs Regional in 08 there were the usual long lineup of 63's., Only one brave soul in the whole bunch had his horns installed according to the 5th edition. And that was "Pappy" from NJ.(one of the gang here)
So I said to the nice fellow. Said just how is it you have your horns installed according to the 5th. He said he already got grabbed for the horn thing at another show so he switched them for Seven Springs.

Meanwhile lets forget about judging manuals and aims, etc. Let talk like we were music majors. Say you had two horns playing in your jazz band. Would you aim the two trumpets,etc toward one another or would you aim the two trumpets away from one another??? Of course you would point the trumpets AWAY from one another. How do I know that? Cause I played sax, clarinet, etc in many jazz bands over the years. JD

Yeah John but would you play your trumpet outside in the rain pointing towards the sky or down towards the ground?

[Michael F.]

Re: Correct Horn Placement, 63'

Hi John !

I believe your horns are mounted correctly. Mine are mounted the same way. The JG has the position listed incorrectly.

Mine are at an angle too. At first it confused me. I had to let that one go. In my case it's a non issue.

[Michael G.]

Re: Correct Horn Placement, 63'

Saw two very original 63 cars today, both with angled horns

[Timothy B.]

Re: Correct Horn Placement, 63'

Michael,

Were the horns on the original cars angled down pointing inward or outward..

[Harry S.]

Re: Correct Horn Placement, 63'

Is this the car you saw? It's a 38k mile car, VIN 19,XXX. A friend pulled this from a shed in New Hampshire. It is an untouched car.

[Lynn H.]

Re: Correct Horn Placement, 63'

My VERY original 63 has the horns angled down and in (facing each other). I tried but cannot get a good photo where the car is currently sitting.
Lynn

[Michael G.]

Re: Correct Horn Placement, 63'

Harry & Tim: that pic is not one of the cars I saw, but they both looked just like that pic, (angled in) My cars both look like that too.