How To: Getting Horny

[infotechplus]

Sorry about the teasing thread title but I couldn't resist

Have you seen that video where those guys go cruising around and quietly sneak up behind people in the street and in car parks, and then let rip with their car horn(s)?

Well, here's how you can also get that amazing sound.

When I drop my youngest off to work at Supercheap Auto at North Parramatta I always check out what shells have been left out for collection by the scrap metal recyclers at Parramatta Prestige. These carcasses are usually BMWs, Audis and Mercs so it is always worth a look to see if anything is worth salvaging (ratting )

A couple of weeks ago there was an imported Alfa - it had the smaller Brembo front calipers as standard. Unfortunately it was gone before I got back to it. Then there was a BMW and an Audi - I think it was an 80.

I saw it still had its twin horns so I grabbed my tools and went back and unbolted them. They were covered in oil and muck but I thought they might be useful on the Lux. I also grabbed the wiring (terminals only) and the relays from inside the cabin. If you can you should get the mounting bracket and nut - it makes things easier later but not essential.

This is the FIAMM kit as it comes from the retailer. Try and get as much of this as you can:



Whilst I'm waiting for my Lux hubs to come back from Western Brake and Steering I thought I might do a bit of research and see if I could could use these horns on the Hilux project.

These horns (FIAMM Model AM80) come as a pair - one High and one Low - and a quck GOOGLE told me they are rated at 125dB. Not bad considering the Lux came with some really limp twin air horns that sounded like a strangled budgie. Many European cars including Mercs have these as standard.

This is the pair cleaned up ready to install:



Here's the wiring (one side only - there are two sets to get if possible):



And here's the relay. It's not essential to grab this relay as any 4 pin relay will do but if it is there, why not:



This relay has power to pin 30, power to the air horns +ve terminals pin 87, and pins 85and 86 for the original wiring from the Hilux. 87a is not used.

When I started the Hilux conversion I got rid of the twin airhorns and replaced them with a standard disc horn from a Corolla (Pick'n'Payless). It was an improvement but still not a patch on these FIAMM units.

First I disconnected the battery and made sure the ignition was not on.

I disconnected the wiring from the horn and connected them to the Audi relay pins.

Then I ran some heavy gauge wire with an inline 20 AMP fuse from the battery through the grille to the driver's side wheelwell. This was connected to pin 30.

I made up some wires and joined them to the Audi connectors. These are connected to the +e terminals together to relay pin 87.

The -ve terminals on both horns are connected to the Lux chassis (Earth) separately.

OK. what do they sound like?. In a word - AMAZING. I am really impressed with the sound and volume. Not bad for a ZERO investment.

Here's the wiring instructions:



Cheers,

Peter

[infotechplus]

Here's the Audi relay mounted in the driver's side wheelwell using a cable tie. The relay will need to be made water proof later to avoid problems.



Both units mounted. The High one next to the power steering unit and the Low one underneath the headlight:



Both units:





I used existing holes to mount both horns via a washer and nut. The Earthed connections are also attached to these points to make things simpler.

Cheers,

Peter

[old_mr2]

We need some granny scaring vids?

[30psi 4agte]

Good tech article mate

[infotechplus]

We need some granny scaring vids?

Try Yahoo video ...

http://video.yahoo.com/video/profile?yid=mystaro

or got direct to:

http://www.hornblasters.com

Cheers,

Peter

[oldcorollas]

i like these


are the Fiamm ones like this but much more compact body? or are they just normal horns but louder?

[TA-022]

pffft dukes of hazards 5 air horn set FTW!

just gotta find a new spot for them cause there is now a intercooler where the live
!

[celicapain]

iF your feelin evil wait till youve pulled up at a red light behind that blonde putting on her lipstick-honk while the lights still red and she will launch into the car in front or into the intersection. not recomended if you have any respect for Karma but funny as hell.

[RobertoX]

^^lol at blonde

I love a big fuck off horn

[YLD-16L]

Nice write up, most Toyotas could use a bit more muscle in the horn department.

Those one OC has pictured, do they play la cucaracha (sp?)

[oldcorollas]

no, they go at the same time just adds a bit of breadth to the sound....

the narva and hella and all those ones look prety similar.. maybe the motors are different quality, but maybe not much.


just remember not to beep goodbye to ya mum when she is standing in front of car

[Slim]

I love being the arsehole that beeps the horn when people have their head under the bonnet looking at the engine. The best time to beep it is when they carefully reach in to adjust something... HOOOOOOOOONK! right as they touch whatever it is they're trying to adjust. I try not to do it when their hand is near a spinning fan or hot exhaust.

[oldcorollas]

i bet your "friends" really like you

[Negative Boost]

Hey thats heaps good infotech! I've been wanting some better horns for aaaages but didn't want to spend heaps of cash on something that i can't really put anywhere, i.e those big 3pk air horns.

[infotechplus]

The AM-80 twin horns are nice and loud. In fact they're rating of 125dB is only surpassed by the Highway Blasters, HK-9 Vibrators and the Twin Electrics - all rated 5dB more at 130dB.

Here's a sound file of a FIAMM installed in a Mercedes. Listen.

Doesn't quite do the twin setup justice but much better representation than the sound files on the FIAMM website.

How loud is "loud"? Well a jet taking off (heard at 200ft) is 120dB and a shotgun being fired is 130dB. Both are rated as "painfully loud". Rock concerts are typically 110dB and a lawnmower in full song is 'only' 90dB.

Seems that Ford here in Oz use FIAMM as standard equipment so check them out next time your at your favourite wreckers.

You can check out the FIAMM website in the US, and download their catalog for more information.

Cheers,

Peter