i'm close to completing my 70 chevelle conv. and was thinking of protecting the car with an alarm system. the one i had in mind comes with a motion sensor and starter kill. i realize that no car is theft proof, but i cannot watch the car 24 hrs/day. i figure if i don't have at least some deterent, i might as well leave the keys with the car running. a couple of months ago, i saw a news report on a new theft device, which accually tracks your vehicle (using cell phone technology) if you report your vehicle stolen. 99% of 2000 vehicles are recovered and i think i can get it where i live(canada). i was wondering what other chevelle owners have on their cars to protect them from theft(if any). thanks....

Have a look at Wes Vann's Tech Reference No. 13 through the Team Chevelle's home page. He discusses the cell phone tracking system you mentioned. You'll read some great thoughts about the whole subject. He discusses a number of tips that I will be using on my car, too.

Besides the "techref" on alarms, there is also a new "techref" that covers the "lock" that I made up for the hood. LOCK YOUR HOOD!

The system that you probably heard advertised is the "Lojack", and it does NOT use a cell phone type system! I find their claims VERY hard to believe, and if you read the "techref #13" you will find out why I feel this way. Other than periodic servicing, there is only a one time charge. (but make sure what the periodic service costs, and how often!!)

The "Teletrac" system does use a cell phone system and there is a monthly charge due to the fact.

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Wes. Vann
Technical Reference & Wagons sections
Gold Member #5

thanks for the insight......the "track" system i heard of costs around $400 (cdn) and then an additional $120 a year to stay on. i plan on talking to police/insurance companies to see how well the system works. i believe the "club" can be some deterent although a smart thief will have a hacksaw handy ready to cut the steering wheel to slide the device off. is their a device that detects movement inside a vehicle?(say, mounted under a seat and will go off if a leg passes by)...also, do insurance companies offer discounts if a decent system is installed? i doubt it, but it would sure be nice! does anybody have a "beeper" device? i heard they fit on your keychain and go off warning you that someone has broken into your car. an alarm salesman told me they do nothing but tell you that your car is being stolen. sure, but if you're warned instantly when the car is broken into, you may be close enough(in a mall or theater) that you can run back to your car and bust the thiefs head open while he's still trying to disarm it. hehe.....

pete;

The police will tell you that the Lojack system is the greatest. Of course, they are the people that control it. Think of this; if the police are "busy" and can't "turn on" and track your car for a couple hours, can you hold them responsable? HECK NO!!!! There is NO accountability.

I've seen systems that have a "pager" type beeper. What I question is the advertised transmitting distance. Keep in mind that the ones I've seen transmit from your car directly to the beeper! It is NOT through a traditional pager service.

If a salesman is saying that there is a $120 a year charge, then it sounds like it really is a "cell phone" type system. You HAVE to get it REAL clear on the "service area" of the cell system!! If the thieves get your car out of the cell area, it's invisable! If you go on a trip out of the cell area, it's invisable! (think of the limitations of a standard cell phone)

Yes, there are sensors that can detect if a person is in your car. They are commonly refered to as "capacitance sensors". It could be REAL helpful if you have a convertable!

I don't like motion detectors! They tend to just *****off the neighbors!

If you have any other questions, please e-mail me direct.

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Wes. Vann
Technical Reference & Wagons sections
Gold Member #5

I have a (swivel lock) which is better than the club the lock can not be frozen and shattered. I have a alarm system that just picks up impact doors trunk etc etc. I have a hood lock it lock by a cable you push in on the interior of the car and will not open again untill I use a key. and finally I have a kill switch. I have to push on a certane spot in the carpit before my car will start. yes a pain in the butt but it works. this on my dalily driver if I were really woried I would ALSO get the teletrack system.

good luck

BTW nothing will stop a flat bed

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Hot66ss

66 Super Sport
67 Malibu
Aces Member 2380
Team Chevelle member #262
GEN X Member #15
Http://members.aol.com/chvellss

I have a (swivel lock) which is better than the club the lock can not be frozen and shattered. I have a alarm system that just picks up impact doors trunk etc etc. I have a hood lock it lock by a cable you push in on the interior of the car and will not open again untill I use a key. and finally I have a kill switch. I have to push on a certane spot in the carpit before my car will start. yes a pain in the butt but it works. this on my dalily driver if I were really woried I would ALSO get the teletrack system.

good luck

BTW nothing will stop a flat bed

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Hot66ss

66 Super Sport
67 Malibu
Aces Member 2380
Team Chevelle member #262
GEN X Member #15
Http://members.aol.com/chvellss

I have a (swivel lock) which is better than the club the lock can not be frozen and shattered. I have a alarm system that just picks up impact doors trunk etc etc. I have a hood lock it lock by a cable you push in on the interior of the car and will not open again untill I use a key. and finally I have a kill switch. I have to push on a certane spot in the carpit before my car will start. yes a pain in the butt but it works. this on my dalily driver if I were really woried I would ALSO get the teletrack system.

good luck

BTW nothing will stop a flat bed

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Hot66ss

66 Super Sport
67 Malibu
Aces Member 2380
Team Chevelle member #262
GEN X Member #15
Http://members.aol.com/chvellss

What about those systems like "Locktronics" where you have to put that little gold chip in the receiver and then use your key... But if the chip isn't in the key won't work. Seems pretty legit, we had it on our '95 Z-71.

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IrateN8
Northern California
1970 Malibu 307 Sport Coupe

I keep coming back to this string.

I think "the Club" is crap and here is why;

Hot wiring a car is easy! That is a given.

The factory steering lock mechanism is only worth a darn (I'm trying to pick my words carefully) at best, due to it's being based on a poor quality aluminum cast housing. All that is required to blow apart the housing is enough twisting force on the steering wheel.

Mounting the Club on the steering wheel gives the thief ADDED leverage to twist the wheel and break the steering housing!!!

Freon it, and then hit it with a hammer!

If somebody wanted to make an item I'd run out and buy, it would be a "replacement" steering housing that was cast out of something stong, like stainless steel.



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Wes. Vann
Technical Reference & Wagons sections
Gold Member #5

I'm also trying to get a security system for my Elky. One system that really apeals to me is a system by Grant. They have a removable steering wheel, and the column is then covered up by a locking cover. Anybody have this system, and do you think it really works???

hmmmm.... the removable wheel thingie!

In my mind, the removable steering wheel sounds good, but I don't think it is implemented good by the owner - you.

To me, it's just like the removable face stereo. When you first get it, you stick it in your back pocket (or jacket pocket) when you get to the mall - try that with your steering wheel! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

After a while, you might take off the stereo face plate, and throw it under the seat. Pretty soon, you leave it in the car.

The removable steering wheel would work pretty good at home, and probably work, but everywhere else, it would be a MAJOR hassle (in my mind).

>>>Rod<<<

My dad has a "collar" that completely captures the wheel & covers steering column area (where the switch is at) on his 1500 Cvhevy truck. The collar is steel and the lock faces the dash (no way to hit it directly).

Got it from a local custom truck shop in Ok City, OK. I plan to see if they can do my Chevelle.

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DG
Springfield, Ohio
70 Chevelle Malibu

www.wright.edu/~adams.6/chevy.htm (http://www.wright.edu/~adams.6/chevy.htm)

TEAM Chevelle Member #0086

Anyone watch Shade Tree Mechanic today (8/7)? They put a cool device on their Shelby kit car that disengages the steering wheel and only allow's it to spin freely.
I wonder if it's available for our Chevelle's?

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Nick P.
Team Chevelle Gold #36

Hey!

I just saw that episode today, and I immediatley thought about this topic. Its a much better system than the Grant because you don't have take the wheel with you. If you go to www.shadetreemechanic.com , they have a link to that manufacturer's website. Just click on project vehicles, then the link to the Cobra kit car, and they will have all the parts featured, along with a link to the manufacturer's website.

It looks real interesting!

I drive by that area about once a week and will have to check it out!

I like the idea that you don't have to use a Grant wheel.



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Wes. Vann
Technical Reference & Wagons sections
Gold Member #5

I saw that show to. It seemed that this would extend the wheel about 2 to 3 inches towards you, and would require an aftermarket wheel. Cool though.

i used to work in a bad, high theft area and understand that car thieves would steal alleged (id stickers) lojack equiped cars and park them where they could keep an eye on them, if the police didn't show up they would strip, or sell at their leisure. i really think that most of these approaches help keep honest people honest. if a real pro wants your car, it's just a matter of time. i heard somewhere that theres a switch that can shut off the fuel supply, a selonoid i guess but it allows enough time to get out in traffic and then quits. as long as noone runs into you it would probably be effective. john

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I used to work for a stereo shop that did the cream of the crop in everything. Best thing to do is insure it appropriately and then get an Onstar alarm from Alpine Electronics. These things cost about a grand to install and about $30 a month, and they use both cellular and GPS sat tracking. If your car is gone- call a 1-800 number and give the operator your name and PIN and they can tell you where your car is, accurate to within 1.5 meters of the antennae. If someone breaks in and sets off the silent alarm, the monitor station listens to what is going on in the vehicle and relates the exact coordinates to the police as a breakin in progress. The system is amazing, but very spendy. For the big dollars you can have big brother in your pocket.