Should I replace my Shockers???

Main Train Horns
1

OK, off the bat a K5 is right out because I have space constraints. My shockers are shoe-horned in behind the grille of my full-size GMC truck, but they have a winch beneath them (in a Warn hidden winch carrier) and a massive (Tru-Cool Max 40k GVWR) aftermarket transmission cooler right behind them. In short, I’ve got no space for a 5th bell in my current mount location and I’m unwilling to lose my spare tire … or replumb for a new mount location.

That said, at a glance it would seem that making a swap to a 3 bell setup would be as simple as:

[ol]
[li]fabbing up a new mounting bracket to hold 3 bells in the same position in which my shockers are mounted[/li][li]mounting the 3 bells to the bracket using independent mounts (ordered from fleabay, I seem to recall someone sells these)[/li][li]re-using my shocker plumbing to feed air from the solenoid to the bells[/li][li]plugging the unused air line (of my 4th shocker bell)[/li][/ol]

This raises some questions:

[ol]
[li]Does the aforementioned plan seem sound? If not, what needs to be changed about it to minimize the refab/reconfig work?[/li][li]What are some good places to look for deals on Leslie S3’s or Nathan K3’s if I were willing to take on restoration? I’m a patient man… and I don’t mind shopping around.[/li][li]Since I’m willing to learn as I go on a DIY restoration , should I consider buying the bells individually since I don’t want/need the manifold? (If I do need the manifold, this project is dead, by the way; no space for it.)[/li][li]Tonally I prefer the sound of Leslie SuperTyfon S3-L’s over Nathan Airchime K3LA’s. Either would be OK but I’d be a lot more pumped about owning the deeper/lower S3-L. From an acquisition and maintenance aspect is acquisition of a Leslie tougher? More spendy? What’s parts availability for them like? Most folks here with real train horns seem to have Nathans; any reasons to steer clear of the Leslies?[/li][/ol]
Please advise. I’m in no rush – just kicking around ideas because I’d like a distraction from my home reno projects and this seems like a fun one if I don’t have to mod my plumbing too much to support it. (i.e. I want to fixate on the horn resto, not the replumbling – because I know nothing about horn resto and am bored with pneumatic plumbing work!)

Surreal

2

I believe the P3’s are louder. IMO. Think about getting those since they’re 3 trumpets.

3

I had forgotten about the P3! It’s a very good suggestion as I do like its sound – right up there with how much I like the S3-L.

As I think about it, bell size/length may come into play in the decision, as well.

4

I’d be very careful about choosing a Leslie - they are MONSTERS. The trumpets, even on an RS3 are absolutely huge and you don’t really get the option of going for separate horn mounts either. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an RSL3 (or similar) mounted behind the grill of a car.

Maintaining the Leslie horns is also a bit more tricky and diaphragms are harder to come by, but nothing you can’t learn or get. I would look into getting a K3 or a P3 - they’re easier to find (parts included) plus easier to mount.

5

Thanks DBO – I suspect your commentary explains why there seems to be a tendency toward Nathans over Leslies.

I suppose I’ll start looking at P3’s.

Do my plumbing mods seem like a sane and minimally-invasive approach?

6

If you’re running an Airchime make sure you have plenty of flow (I.e. Right from the tank right up to the horns). I initially did something very similar to what you want to do - had Shocker XL system, then installed a K3 on seperate mounts (https://www.trainhornforums.com/showthread.php?t=5734) keeping the original 1/2" from tank to Banjo splitter and then 5/16" airlines via 1/4" elbows onto the horns. I even kept one of the Shockers on the 4th line. It’s ok, but ultimately the Nathan’s suck more air than those thin lines can give. I eventually changed everything to 1/2" and haven’t looked back.

Basically, …Do it proper the first time round and you only have to do it once :wink: