Road Runner Horn Tuning

[Doubleclutch]

My Road Runner's BEEP BEEP is out of tune. Back in the day there used to be tuning screws inside the horns. Anybody had one apart? I haven't pulled the cover yet just looking for advice maybe just clean the points?

Thanks Chuck

 

[Richard Cranium]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2bpPTTUdVw

 

[idrivemopar]

I completely disassembled and restored both of the horns I have, there is a tuning screw on the outside of it that should allow you to adjust the pressure on the metal bellows that is inside the horn which vibrates and denotes that famous sound.

Here is a pic of the screw location.


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Also, here is the thread on the complete restoration process that I did, sorry, the title of the thread says "Stanton" instead of Sparton, and cant fix it, but here is the link. http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?54143-Stanton-Beep-Beep-Horn-restoration-with-photos&highlight=stanton+horn

 

[Lionized]

You also need a special reverse torx driver to adjust the tune, no?

 

[kiwigtx]

..................

Also, here is the thread on the complete restoration process that I did, sorry, the title of the thread says "Stanton" instead of Sparton, and cant fix it, but here is the link. http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?54143-Stanton-Beep-Beep-Horn-restoration-with-photos&highlight=stanton+horn

I fixed it for you. :icon_cool:

 

[idrivemopar]

You also need a special reverse torx driver to adjust the tune, no?

No, I use a micro set of vise grips to turn the adjusting screw.

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I fixed it for you. :icon_cool:

Outstanding! Thanks Kiwigtx!

 

[Doubleclutch]

Thanks Guys will look at the restoration.
I guess everyone has heard the story of how the RR almost came with stock horns by Jack Smith. Any way, he relates that he had the go ahead from the board to build the car and the Beep Beep horn just wasn't available within mopar. Finally found one that was manufactured by a military source but cost $45 per unit which sunk the budget. They negotiated for a quantity price and finally met budget constaints but time ran out. Plymouth had a mandatory horn test of 10,000 cycles and there was no time. Smith put his job on the line and signed off on the test without authorization.

My 3 year old grandson and I will have a great time horn tuning!

 

[idrivemopar]

I didn't know that story, thanks for sharing. Interesting. I also find it interesting how close the RR horn is to old military jeep horn, guess they were made by the same company, and if you watch old tv show like M.A.S.H, the jeep horns sound almost identical to the RR horn.

 

[HYRDGOON]

Had no clue they could be adjusted Thanks for asking the question doubleclutch and thanks idrivemopar for the answer and pic

 

[Vinny]

There has to be a proper adjusting tool or socket to turn these screws with out chewing them up with a vice grip, no matter how small it is.

Vinny

 

[Ranger16]

Thanks Guys will look at the restoration.
I guess everyone has heard the story of how the RR almost came with stock horns by Jack Smith. Any way, he relates that he had the go ahead from the board to build the car and the Beep Beep horn just wasn't available within mopar. Finally found one that was manufactured by a military source but cost $45 per unit which sunk the budget. They negotiated for a quantity price and finally met budget constaints but time ran out. Plymouth had a mandatory horn test of 10,000 cycles and there was no time. Smith put his job on the line and signed off on the test without authorization.

That original, government gouging $45 horn even worked underwater (I guess to let fish know your crossing a river). Chrysler told them to take off all the waterproofing and everything else but keep it a legal horn and give them an estimate the next day. It turned out to be only $0.47 more than Chrysler was already paying for their horns, and the Road Runner had it's voice. Beep Beep!

 

[idrivemopar]

There has to be a proper adjusting tool or socket to turn these screws with out chewing them up with a vice grip, no matter how small it is.

Vinny

No tool that I know of, if you are careful they are easy to tune without chewing up the screw head, this is why I used micro-vise grips, because the teeth actually meshed better with the screw head.

 

[Lionized]

There has to be a proper adjusting tool or socket to turn these screws with out chewing them up with a vice grip, no matter how small it is.

Vinny

Inverted, Female or E-Torx.
Ask your local jobber or check Home Depot, O'Reilly's etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Female-Torx-Sockets-Set-11pc/dp/B0002SQEW8

 

[idrivemopar]

Yep, E-Torx or E-Socket, but the size is a mystery. I just checked and E8 does not fit, and E10 is too big, so I don't know if E9 actually exists, but the screw head does seem to be similar to E8, but I think it might just be different enough to not be a true torx. So the mystery remains.