AIR HORN KIT...

Discuss fixes, upgrades and modifications to your M37

Moderators: Cal_Gary, T. Highway, Monkey Man, robi

Post Reply
Cal_Gary
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 4303
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:51 am
Location: Draper, Utah

AIR HORN KIT...

Post by Cal_Gary »

Hello All,
I've been storing a mega air horn kit for the past couple of years and wanted to get started on the project; however, never had a base plate or a plan for locating it under the truck. So, last Saturday I made a short trip to a place called "Metal Mart" scrounging for some scrap steel. No scrap but a well-organized yard with a helpful staff, and a 10lb minimum purchase. I told them what I needed then got a 12x18x1/8 plate along with a 6x12x1/8 plate for less than $10 total! Since I have a spare set of M37 front fender hangers (the very front pair) I intend to use them as the support bracketry (with the larger steel plate on top) for the air horn tank and compressor, and when cut to size should fit behind the front main cross member of the bed area. That way I won't lose any ground clearance and the kit will be protected and solidly mounted. Once I begin to fab this up I'll include some photos.
More to follow,
Gary
Cal_Gary
1954 M37 W/W
MVPA Correspondent #28500
Marmalute
PFC
PFC
Posts: 78
Joined: Sun May 01, 2016 11:45 am
Location: Northern Vermont

Re: AIR HORN KIT...

Post by Marmalute »

Nothing like a good air horn!
Pictures of your progress will be interesting for sure.
Will this be your “main” horn or additional to current standard one?
Cal_Gary
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 4303
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:51 am
Location: Draper, Utah

Re: AIR HORN KIT...

Post by Cal_Gary »

The main horn since the military horn does more vibrating than sounding off....
Gary
Cal_Gary
1954 M37 W/W
MVPA Correspondent #28500
jim lee
SSGT
SSGT
Posts: 453
Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2012 6:51 pm
Location: Anacortes, WA
Contact:

Re: AIR HORN KIT...

Post by jim lee »

One of the local kids in town got his hands on a airhorn set from a locomotive. He installed it in his unassuming little car, somehow. That thing would make you jump out of your own skin when it went off!

-jim lee
Cal_Gary
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 4303
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:51 am
Location: Draper, Utah

Re: AIR HORN KIT...

Post by Cal_Gary »

That's the plan Jim, too many idiots turning in front of me and I can't cuss loud enough at 'em anymore....
I think this one is 215 decibels, with room behind the alternator for the 3 flutes....
Gary
Cal_Gary
1954 M37 W/W
MVPA Correspondent #28500
Cal_Gary
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 4303
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:51 am
Location: Draper, Utah

Re: AIR HORN KIT...

Post by Cal_Gary »

Hey All,
Reviving this old post because I'm making some headway on my air horn kit. I fabbed up the tank/compressor mount using two of the front fender hangers ( I had a spare pair). I measured, marked, drilled, test-fitted then painted the mount black since I'm out of 24087. In the pictures you will notice I used the mounts with an outward stance; I can also reverse them for a closer mount point but until I get under the truck to see how much frame space I'll have, I'll leave them as they are.

Notice that I also took advantage of the extra bung to mount a quick-connect air fitting. That might come in handy in a number of ways.
I will also share that the kit didn't come with wiring instructions so I'll have to figure out the correct electrical path with my multimeter.
Not sure when I'll get under the truck to measure, drill and fit the mount as it's been so hot. The three flutes are huge but will fit on the driver's side inner fender panel under the hood.
painted air horn mount.JPG
painted air horn mount.JPG (56.99 KiB) Viewed 1478 times
More to follow,
Gary
Air horn tank and compressor.JPG
Air horn tank and compressor.JPG (54.38 KiB) Viewed 1478 times
air horn bracketry and mount plate.JPG
air horn bracketry and mount plate.JPG (42.13 KiB) Viewed 1478 times
Cal_Gary
1954 M37 W/W
MVPA Correspondent #28500
Cal_Gary
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 4303
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:51 am
Location: Draper, Utah

Re: AIR HORN KIT...

Post by Cal_Gary »

Tried to fit this over the weekend. I don't like the placement on the frame so I'm exploring options. it appears I can mount this pointing backward from the back of the cargo channel; however that would mean mounting the tank and compressor on the bottom side of the plate-not an ideal setup either.

Giving this some more thought before proceeding....
Gary
Cal_Gary
1954 M37 W/W
MVPA Correspondent #28500
PoW
SFC
SFC
Posts: 516
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:48 pm
Location: Hidden Valley, AZ

Re: AIR HORN KIT...

Post by PoW »

If you want to really get their attention, scrounge up a set of the air horns from a deuce or 5-ton.

They are tuned to a tritone, a musical interval known to be absolutely horrid to human ears :shock:, and are bloody loud with 100psi behind them.

They can mount just fine just behind the left front headlight guard, just above the front marker light.

Toot sweet!

PoW
Cal_Gary
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 4303
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:51 am
Location: Draper, Utah

Re: AIR HORN KIT...

Post by Cal_Gary »

Oh I've got three huge flutes on mine, rated to 215 decibels.
I may just have to split up the air tank and compressor, mounting them separately.
More to follow,
Gary
Cal_Gary
1954 M37 W/W
MVPA Correspondent #28500
Cal_Gary
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 4303
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:51 am
Location: Draper, Utah

Re: AIR HORN KIT...

Post by Cal_Gary »

Hi All, hope everyone is well!
Got a recent vacation in so I didn't get anything done on the M37.
This evening I crawled under the truck with the air tank and compressor, and found that if I drill thru the truck bed I can mount both upside down behind the big crossmember just behind the transfer case. If I use stove bolt heads they won't be too intrusive in the bed, so I believe that will be my solution on a mounting position.
More to follow,
Gary
Cal_Gary
1954 M37 W/W
MVPA Correspondent #28500
User avatar
Bushi
PVT
PVT
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Oct 20, 2007 11:00 am
Location: Wake Forest, NC

Re: AIR HORN KIT...

Post by Bushi »

How many “toots” can one expect to get before the tank is empty?
Cal_Gary
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 4303
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:51 am
Location: Draper, Utah

Re: AIR HORN KIT...

Post by Cal_Gary »

I'll know that once I install it. The tank is the size of the acetylene tank in a portable gas ax.
More to follow,
Gary
Cal_Gary
1954 M37 W/W
MVPA Correspondent #28500
Cal_Gary
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 4303
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:51 am
Location: Draper, Utah

Re: AIR HORN KIT...

Post by Cal_Gary »

Hi Guys,
I found time to drill the mounting holes thru the bed floor then mounted the compressor this weekend. Hope to mount the tank this week with some metal straps.
Yes, I'm taking pictures-will post once I get the tank mounted.
More to follow,
Gary
Cal_Gary
1954 M37 W/W
MVPA Correspondent #28500
T. Highway
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 1808
Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:57 am
Location: S.E. Wisconsin, USA, Earth

Re: AIR HORN KIT...

Post by T. Highway »

Interesting project Gary, it made me chuckle a bit.

My previous employer told me one day that the air horn "Is not there for my amusement" and I replied that I only use it for idiot drivers doing stupid crap in front of me. I found out later that it was my supervisors wife that I had scared the crap out of with the horn and she called the office.

Looking forward to seeing the finished project pictures.

Bert
Cal_Gary
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 4303
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:51 am
Location: Draper, Utah

Re: AIR HORN KIT...

Post by Cal_Gary »

That's awesome Bert!
Working on the quick-connect plumbing next....
Gary
Cal_Gary
1954 M37 W/W
MVPA Correspondent #28500
Post Reply