1975 Horn Button

[Eric F.]

I was recently told at a judging meet that I had the wrong horn button on my non-tilting steering column. The TIMJG indicates the button should have the chrome button. Mine has a painted tapered outside edge with crossed flags in the center. I was told it should have a chromed squared outside edge with crossed flags in the center.

I have never seen the chromed button on any car. I scowered all my magazines and manuals and searched the net last night but haven't seen one yet. I did get notice from one individual the factory initially delivered the cars with the chromed buttons but recalled them in early production because of glare problems from the chrome horn button.

Does anyone have information regarding this horn button or the recall?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Eric

[Harmon C.]

Re: 1975 Horn Button

I was recently told at a judging meet that I had the wrong horn button on my non-tilting steering column. The TIMJG indicates the button should have the chrome button. Mine has a painted tapered outside edge with crossed flags in the center. I was told it should have a chromed squared outside edge with crossed flags in the center.

I have never seen the chromed button on any car. I scowered all my magazines and manuals and searched the net last night but haven't seen one yet. I did get notice from one individual the factory initially delivered the cars with the chromed buttons but recalled them in early production because of glare problems from the chrome horn button.

Does anyone have information regarding this horn button or the recall?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Eric

If you have the 75 AIM you may find a date in the notes when the chrome button was changed. The cars are judged as delivered so this why the chrome button is needed on some cars but more information is needed.

[Eric F.]

Re: 1975 Horn Button

Thanks Lyle but I checked the AIM and there weren't any notes regarding the horn button and/or assembly. The AIM lists the CAP- Horn part number as 3923661. The GM Chassis and Body Parts catalog lists the Cap Assy as part # as 3957946 in black.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1975 Horn Button

I am unsure of the '75 button but as far as polished versus painted horn buttons this happened earlier in the 1977 model year. I ordered my '77 August, 1976, took delivery November, 1976 with a polished button and shortly after received a recall letter stating that I should return the car to the dealer and get an exchange, a button that was painted.
I declined to do so and had to sign a letter stating that I declined and give it tomy dealer, which I did. I still have the original polished button on my Corvette.

I still have the recall letter somewhere in my records.

Steve

[Dick W.]

Re: 1975 Horn Button

I believe that you are right, the change came early in the '77 model year, not the '75. I believe that someone was looking at the wrong line in the TIM&JG

[Eric F.]

Re: 1975 Horn Button

Dick,

The 75-77 second edition TIM&JG page 12, Section 6. Horn Button & Turn Signal Lever lists the following " The horn button in 1975 is chrome with squared edge; the center has the crossed flag emblem against a black background." It goes on to mention the recall in 1977, although it refers to a "brushed aluminum" not chrome finish that was the subject of the recall.

[Eric F.]

Re: 1975 Horn Button

Steven,

For my clarification, is your button brushed, polished or chrome?

[Harmon C.]

Re: 1975 Horn Button

Eric
I have an April build 75 with tilt-telescoping and it has a red leather-grained horn button with red interior. Reading the TIM&JG again it looks to me like the chrome horn button must have been used only on the standard column because of the note (squared edge). I have not judged this area so others will need to help on this one.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1975 Horn Button

Eric, my '77 button is brushed, not polished or chrome. Sorry, I used the wrong terminology.

The reason for going to painted buttons was the problem of glare from the polished button. After all these years I have never experienced that problem with the brushed button.

Steve

[John H.]

Re: 1975 Horn Button

FWIW, the MVSS regulation the horn button failed deals with "specular gloss" of components in the driver's field of view under various lighting conditions/intensities; just one of the barrel full of regulatory nonsense designers had to consider, design for, validate, and document before production started.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1975 Horn Button

FWIW, the MVSS regulation the horn button failed deals with "specular gloss" of components in the driver's field of view under various lighting conditions/intensities; just one of the barrel full of regulatory nonsense designers had to consider, design for, validate, and document before production started.

Yes, like the fear someone would get "caught" by a knock off spinner. I always thought if you are that close to a moving vehicle both car and pedestrian will have body damage. I think most mirrors stick out farther than the knock offs.

[John H.]

Re: 1975 Horn Button

Yes, like the fear someone would get "caught" by a knock off spinner. I always thought if you are that close to a moving vehicle both car and pedestrian will have body damage. I think most mirrors stick out farther than the knock offs.

Yup, that MVSS reg was written to protect pedestrians from "winged projections".

[Steven B.]

Re: 1975 Horn Button

Yup, that MVSS reg was written to protect pedestrians from "winged projections".

'But why were glass/plexi covered headlights prohibited? Light distortion??
I always hoped the FIA headlights would become production.

[John H.]

Re: 1975 Horn Button

'But why were glass/plexi covered headlights prohibited? Light distortion??
I always hoped the FIA headlights would become production.

That one got into photometrics, diffusion, and light refraction requirements - don't recall the details, but it was later amended.