53-55 Repo Horn Emblems don't fit

[Troy P.]

Someone familiar with restoring early cars suggested to me that the repo horn emblems don't fit in the repo chrome horn rings. So when I got back to the garage I checked mine and found he was correct. The fit is too tight and probably doesn't work. I'm afraid to force the horn emblem in for fear of breaking it or never being able to get it back out again.

Seems like others have run into this problem and may have the proven fix. Any solutions out there? I could experiment on my own but I figure someone already know the best approach.

[Michael L.]

Re: 53-55 Repo Horn Emblems don't fit

Troy, I had the same problem with my repro horn button. I did not use the snap ring included and just filed a bit here and there to get a very snug fit. It is not going anywhere... I found this to be the case with several repro items I bought, some are just incorrect and need a little "tweaking", for the price you pay for some of this stuff it should fit right as is.

Mike

[Troy P.]

Re: 53-55 Repo Horn Emblems don't fit

I could do that. I was wondering how significant the metal snap ring is in the greater scheme of things.

[Michael L.]

Re: 53-55 Repo Horn Emblems don't fit

Troy, mine has not come loose. I have to use a plastic, non-marring pry tool to remove it. I would guess with the correct parts, the snap ring served a purpose.

[Roy B.]

Re: 53-55 Repo Horn Emblems don't fit



All Repro horn emblems don't work using the retaining spring
Ant repro great ! They don't even paint the front emblem correct top original ,bottom repro. The horn emblem left repro and right original . I'm talking the black flag area.

[Steven B.]

Re: 53-55 Repo Horn Emblems don't fit

All Repro horn emblems don't work using the retaining spring
Ant repro great ! They don't even paint the front emblem correct top original ,bottom repro. The horn emblem left repro and right original . I'm talking the black flag area.

It seems to me it takes about the same amount of time to do something right as it does to do something wrong. I would be interested in hearing from some repro mfgr's why some items aren't correct---incorrect samples/models to follow, can't get tooling right, too costly, etc.

[Roy B.]

Re: 53-55 Repo Horn Emblems don't fit

Steve! I believe I know the answer and that is the JM. If (it's) not mentioned in the JM most repro's will not do it correct. Why ? Because it may cost to much or when the JM does mention it they can resell the same part again. It's called capitalizing. Over the years I've seen parts re-repro'ed, you've seen this , an add saying (now re-made to NCRS specks and will pass NCRS judging) . JUDGING is the key word!!
Now you know why it's hard to convince some people to buy a REAL ORIGINAL part that may be dirty and not pretty like a repro.
I tried once to sell a (real original) horn button for $200.00 and people said I was crazy when they can buy a repro that will pass NCRS for $100.00.
I've had many original parts like others that cant sell them , may be the reason you find few real parts at swap meets.

[Troy P.]

Re: 53-55 Repo Horn Emblems don't fit

It does seem like it would not have cost any more to get the flag colors right though. I've read that at least one (and maybe there is only one) producer of the repo horn buttons is using the original mold.

Does the original button have the wire snap ring? Do we really know if the button doesn't fit because the button is the problem or is it that the repo horn rings do not have a large enough hole? If it's true that the original mold is being used, one could conclude the horn ring is the issue. I couls see how someone could have underestimated the casting size of hole needed to later accomodate the triple chrome plating it would receive. The plating could have made the hole too small. I've had my original replated so its no longer useful to determine if the original, untouched, horn button hole is the same size as the repo horn ring's hole.

[Roy B.]

Re: 53-55 Repo Horn Emblems don't fit

Yes the original does have a snap ring , the repro horn ring I don't know if it's correct. But triple chroming can be a problem . I've had the repro emblem and you cant get to fit using the spring in the original horn ring. I sold the 55 shielding but some people wonted better triple chrome , then when they sent it out and got it back the parts dint fit

[Troy P.]

Re: 53-55 Repo Horn Emblems don't fit

Did you take the ring off and file down the plastic or just toss the emblem?

[Roy B.]

Re: 53-55 Repo Horn Emblems don't fit

Did you take the ring off and file down the plastic or just toss the emblem?

I found if I take the ring off and just push it on it seemed to stay , but went back to the original even tho it show a little crazing and because the flag is wrong I just put it away with other repro's I've gotten to compare with original
I rather have a little wear on a real original part then use a repro I can tell is wrong