Horn questions?

[vndin]

Hey guys, just wanted to pick some brains other than my own.
I have a 74 rat rod beetle that is VERY close to being able to be put back on the road, to do so i have to meet certain requirements to pass the inspection, one of those being i need a functioning horn.

now that in its own right isnt a big deal, its literally a button and a power feed to the horn.... my question is this.

In the process of the build I lengthened my wheel base almost 14" which pushed the wheels forward quite a bit from the factory location. In doing this I lengthened the factory "steering column" rod the same amount. (using a rail buggy lengthened rod to do so) I no longer have the outer column parts, im running basically a rail buggy style column. (more or less a straight bar between the steering box and the steering wheel.) now in the diagrams i have found, all the "factory" horn buttons work by riding on a ring inside the column body to get the power to the button? (or the ground to the button?) so then when you push the factory/custom horn button the contact is made and the horn goes off.

that all being said, since i do not have any of the column parts and literally just have the wheel, its adapter, and a metal rod to the steering box how would i get power to the button without the wiring twisting all over the damn place when you steer?

i think I'm overthinking this entire thing and getting into my own head. The grant adapter has a wire that goes into the horn button location under the centercap of the steering wheel, but how do i get power to the wheel without having a wire just kind of hanging out under the dash flopping around when I steer left or right?


my other thought was to isolate the horn from a ground source, keeping it constantly "hot" and then using the horn button to "supply" a ground when depressed? not sure which is right, just wanted other input before i start tearing into it
_________________
Things are often bad in everyday situations but remember they can always get worse..... and usually do.

[MrGoodtunes]

[vndin]

Okay, did some playing and came up with my "fix" for the horn.

I get it that most steering wheel columns are hollow, mine is not. part of the "extending" my chassis was extending the column and to do so I used a large section of bar stock. so no go on the hollow column to shove wire through. I was looking around at the things I had available bc i wanted to use the center horn button on the new steering wheel.

looking at the adapter it has a "ring" that is suppose to ride against part of the original steering column, which i do not have, and looking into what i could do to adapt that to work on my ride I decided to try to do something.

I modified a old set of points from a distributor I had laying around in my parts bin. cut one leg off of it to allow it to spring open further and positioned it to the underside of the column as shown in picture.

The points slide on some dielectric grease on the rear portion of the grant adapter. hooked it to the ground terminal of the horn and now when you push the button the circuit is completed by the points and the horn beeps....

i know this isnt the way to properly do it but its what I came up with out of the parts and debris I have left over in my garage. It works, its a rat rod, I like it and am strangely proud of this rigging of parts to fit a need, odd or not. lol.

I've also included a pic of the relocated tail lights (now down on the bedsides) as well as the mounted third brake light. hope you all enjoy!

[/img]
_________________
Things are often bad in everyday situations but remember they can always get worse..... and usually do.

[finster]

I like how you're channeling prof porsche

why not just put a horn button on the dash?

like the build btw
_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[oprn]

My wife found this at a 2nd hand shop. Incredibly loud for it's size and is 100% street legal!

_________________
Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!