ok so I am trying to get the horn working , the relay is good , the wires are good , I take off the steering wheel I remove the plate and snap ring , now I find that the semi round ring with the metal on the bottom is supposed to have like a guide for a plunger with spring . its just not there . I guess it broke off the last guy and never fixed it . where the hell do I find this item and a scheme on how it goes back on ?

 

I think that is a fairly common set up for all GM cars so parts should not be too difficult to find. The Factory Service Manual is the best bet for how to install it. By the way, I think if you momentarily short the ring to the metal steering shaft (ground) the horn should sound and that would verify the rest of the circuit is good.

I found this thread about a similar situation. Joe had some good recommendations and a more concise answer than I provided. Hope this helps.

 

This thread has pictures! I assume this is for your 71 Cutlass.

 

That's a great thread.

The part you need is called a cancel cam and is common on just about every 1969-up GM steering column. They are available everywhere. The horn contact kit (eyelet, spring, and retainer ring) are common with the ones on Camaros and Corvettes, so they are also available everywhere. I paid $4.95 for the contact kit from a Camaro repro vendor at Spring Carlisle.

 

I found both parts but had to order the spring with euelet, these numbskulls here in vegas took forever to find it. thanks . the horn did work when I started I might have shorted the relay with all this but will wait till I install the rest on thurs.next is the weatherstripping kit from opg ! with the glove box , cant wait to get away from electric for a week or so ! but will be getting into rollers and things with the quarter window being broke.

 

Yeah, ebay. Like 5 bucks. Got 4 of them jic.