'49 Chrys Horn - Horn Ring

[Dodgeb4ya]

Yeah... I now remember the odd attachment issue.. only on the 49 chryslers!

They use the odd turn signal lever and switch too. 

You can use an OHM meter to check for horn ring contact once it's all screwed together but I think there is no connection.

I looked through all my parts and shop manuals including the 1949 only chrysler parts book... none show the horn assembly.

1949 Chrysler is all by itself.

[rb1949]

Back up to my post 1, the pix shows the turn signal, under the column. Reading indicates that due to problems, 1948 models were sold as '49. The real, 'new' 1949 models didn't come out til later in the year. Mine was delivered in Sept, 1949.

Dodge had me convinced that the horn ring touching the 3 leg plate "gizmo' made the connection to honk the horn. Mine wasn't doing that. The nubs, or contact points on the bottom of the ring looked pretty skimpy. Worn? OK, we can't change the ring. Only 1 thing left, and cleverosity set in. Bring the plate 'gizmo' closer to the ring. I loosened each of the 3 screws, slid a washer under there for a spacer, and retightened the screws. The plate is secure, and now raised the thickness of the small washer, bringing it closer to the ring. Re-assemble the horn ring and center cap via the 3 screws. Gently turn on key. Good, no honks, nothing is making contact. Press horn ring, and HONK HONK, it worked! Gosh, what a smile. Both horns are REALLY loud!! Hope this annoying project has been solved. (no honking while driving.) Dodge's last post and the pix was the key to understanding what should be happening in there. THANKS. And the solution to make it work as indicated was so simple.

[Dodgeb4ya]

Good going rb1949..! That wasn't so bad was it...even with me leading you off the tracks for awhile !

Glad you got-er honkin!

[DonaldSmith]

So happy for you!  Jump up and down and shout!  (Honk your horn!)  It really feels good to finally solve a perplexing problem.  And your solution will live on in this forum's vast pool of knowledge and experience. 

[rb1949]

A quick addition to this project. No pix of the solution, just add 3 washers. There seemed to be nothing in parts books, or diagrams, of this 1949 Chrysler horn parts. My steering wheel is in post 1. I did note part numbers from this '49, just in case. The center cap is held on via 3 screws, Cap  # 1141436. The plastic emblem in the center probably has it's own part #. The horn ring is held in place by the center cap, Ring # 1139499. The 3-legged plate holding down the spring is # 1141460. Good luck to any '49er checking horn issues.

[colinr]

This thread has been really helpful. I have what I thought was a 48 New Yorker however I purchased a 48 steering wheel part # BH1122313 as a replacement as the steering wheel on my car # BH1330991 was in rough shape and I found the 48 steering wheel I bought on ebay does not fit with the smaller diameter hub splines. So perhaps my New Yorker is actually a 49, which could be possible. When I resealed the axle the date stamp on the ring gear was 11 48, late production run perhaps. So I have accumulated steering wheel parts for a 48 which I cannot use. I refurbished my original 49 wheel and now is way better than what it was, but I need the horn button and hardware for a 49. From what I have learned the three legged spring retainer is not the same 48 to 49. Does anyone know if the gizmo for the horn ground wire is the same for 48 and 49? I thought about having the splines punched out on the 48 steering wheel so I could use that since I have all the hardware, horn button etc. but in speaking to a machinist this is not really feasible. I thought about going to an aftermarket wheel but I cannot find any matching hub adapters and I would prefer to keep the stock wheel with the larger 17" diameter as well as the look with the Chrysler emblem , horn ring etc. So any help sourcing a 49 horn button and hardware would be appreciated. If anyone is looking for a 48 steering wheel let me know. Cheers,

[Mezz]

Hey Colinr, I know that the 1946-48 8 cyl Chryslers have a different spline size than the 6-cyl so maybe that's the difference you're seeing?  The horn ring on all the 46 - 8 forms a complete circle, a 49 horn ring only goes around the bottom 2/3's of the wheel.  Not sure if the Y piece is the same 48 to 49 but it sounds like both your wheels are 48?  Hope this helps.