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View Full Version : An Evil Mod to The Car...


Chuck
06-12-2006, 11:25 PM
We all have to suffer rude drivers.

I came up with an evil idea.

What if I installed an air horn from a Peterbuilt big-rig on my Insight? :D

That might seem like a house cat chasing a black bear up a tree (see pic in BBC Story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5067912.stm))

I'm anticipating the power surge might cause a recal....

philmcneal
06-13-2006, 12:10 AM
aha well what does it sound like do you have a clip?

Lately I've been showing more curtorsy on one lane roads but as soon as I'm on two, I go all out.

Hot Georgia
06-13-2006, 12:58 AM
I was thinking about something like this:
http://www.wolo-mfg.com/air.htm

I like the MODEL 418 POWERHOUSE.
Good price too.

laurieaw
06-13-2006, 01:54 AM
omigod, chuck, i nearly snorted all over my screen, i LOVE the idea!!!

when would you apply it? as they passed you with their finger in the air, or right as they slalomed back into your lane right off your front bumper WHAHAHAHAHAH

Chuck
06-13-2006, 03:11 PM
Imagine if it's a distracted cell phone user that gets the horn, and the other caller asks: "what was that?" :p

Hot Georgia
06-14-2006, 05:06 PM
I just ordered the cheapest set from my link above. Total w/ regualr ground shipping was $43.94.

Now I'll have to find room to mount them. :cool:

Chuck
06-14-2006, 05:21 PM
Now I'm really getting wicked - I want a train whistle. :D

laurieaw
06-15-2006, 03:12 AM
Now I'm really getting wicked - I want a train whistle. :D


you are off the deep end :D

train whistle wouldn't work for me. my commute is alongside train tracks almost all the way to the office, and there are little crossings all along it. i just tune out the trains....

Hot Georgia
06-20-2006, 05:07 PM
My horns came today just as I was leaving for work! :)

These things are small.
I'll take an audio db reading of my factory horn vs these air horns.
I'll take some photos too!

Chuck
06-21-2006, 09:07 AM
AutoZone had a 132db horn for $15, so I bought one last night. Once I locate the horn, etc. I might consider two horns. :p

Around 6:10am this morning I wanted to use one. The freeway ramp is very outdated - people enter and exit the same ramp. Some hothead was giving me the bright lights because I was "only" getting up to 50mph at that time. On that driver's second flash, I gave em the brakes (not real hard, but they got the message). Of course it steams me when drivers think they have the right to roadkill you if you are not speeding like them. :mad:

Hot Georgia
06-21-2006, 08:38 PM
Today I put the new horns in.
I took a few photos in case anyone might do the same.

First is a photo to show the small size of the new horns. At first I was a bit let down as I was expecting something a little bigger, but in the end bigger wouldn't have fit:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/1Package.jpg

A few plastic pop-out rivets removed the black shroud that is located under the hood and attaches to the top of the front grille.
Once that was removed a few more of those plastic pop rivets hold the grill in place, accessible from behind. Also two phillips head screws hold the grille in place, one on each end. I used a right-angle ratcheting screwdriver for them.

Here's what I did up to that point:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/2Nogrille.jpg

The absolute worst job hands down is getting that OEM horn out, and disconnecting the wire leading to it. The horn is on the driver side, WAY down in the corner behind an air sensor and held in by a single bolt:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/3OEMHorn3.jpg

I tried to rig both the OEM and new horns to blow together but couldn't manage for the extremely tight space and very short horn wire.
It took me almost two hours just to get that OEM horn out and properly disconnected. I also had to remove one top mounting bracket for the AC condenser to gain more room for both hands.

I used the included horn relay (Instructions suggest not to use it) to reduce load. (The OEM horn wire is only a tiny gauge)

Anyway here it is just before I put the grill on:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/4NewHorn.jpg

I had trouble finding/making a good ground connection. They sure use good paint!
What I had hoped to be a 1-2 hr job ended up taking about 4 hours, mainly for working the very tight space, and troubleshooting a bad ground.
(Not to mention fighting the humid, most hottest day this year in Georgia)

But now that they are in I'm glad I did- they sound great. :)

BTW the main reson I put these in was for concern of a big truck not seeing me, and moving on over into my lane. I try and stay out of their blind spot but....well you know how that goes. At least now I know he can a least hear it BLOW :rolleyes:

Chuck
06-22-2006, 08:35 AM
I'm just fed up being on the rightmost lane when there are 2-3 lanes to the left of me, and so many people choose to pass me on the right using the shoulder or access lane. :mad: While some could just be in a hurry, I suspect that most that do this figure they can do whatever they please as long as they get away with it.

ralph_dog
06-22-2006, 10:33 AM
personally, I would prefer to use the 007 method....like dumping a bucketfull of roofing nails from a hole in the trunk for those who like to ride your rear bumper...or maybe a nice little oil slick for the guy flashing you on the on ramp...that wiould stain their shorts...:)

tbaleno
06-22-2006, 10:46 AM
So the question is, are they loud?

xcel
06-22-2006, 11:06 AM
Hi Tom:
So the question is, are they loud?
___First it’s your remote start and massive stereo/amp setup and now you are going to drive me nuts with a Locomotive air horn? What is the world coming too ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hot Georgia
06-22-2006, 11:36 AM
Tom I was in a bit of a hurry to put them in and didn't get a chance to actually measure the pressure on my db meter.
The might be a little louder than the OEM horn but the main improvement is the "Look out" :eek: sound, rather than the benign beep-beep.
I still get the "toot" with locking with the key FOB. I was conserned that the compressor motor wouldn't spin up fast enough for that short pulse but it does.

Chuck I can't imagine people passing in the emergency shoulder. Sounds like the the wild, wild West still lives on!

Chuck
06-22-2006, 11:59 AM
Hot_Georgia, usually, it's a ramp rather than a shoulder they pass to the right of the freeway on, but I've seen both.

Ralph_Dog, I'd love to discreetly spray tacks just before they pass, then laugh as they realize they have a flat.



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