OK, all this talk about cars getting stolen is makin me paranoid as hell. What are some good tricks you guys, in your infinite wisdom http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif, use to keep the worthless, need their hands among other things cut off bastards from stealin your ride? Or what are some good anti-theft products I should look into? Car thieves SUCK!!!!!!!!!

Well my best anti-theft device is having no engine in my car http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif Honestly, hasn't run for 6 months, hasn't been stolen for 6 months. I figure it's the best way, but not the right way.

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Jay W.
In-the-works 67 Malibu-Temecula, CA
genxrodsandcustoms.8m.com (http://genxrodsandcustoms.8m.com)
surferwagons.8m.com (http://surferwagons.8m.com)
www.angelfire.com/ca4/67malibu (http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/67malibu)

I rigged up a lock for my hood. I know that Gene Chas (I think) has an artical in the tech archives about some fancy ass lock that he bought, which would probably work better than what I made, but hey, i'm on a tight budget and mine looks real stock. What I did was take three square nuts, drill out the threads, (a piece of pipe would be better but I had none the right size), Then I found a nice long bolt the right length, drilled a couple holes in the head. Then I Mounted it to my hood latch. Took an 8' choke cable, mounted it on my dash, strung it around the fender to the bolt, looped it through the holes in the head of the bolt, and PRESTO, instant hood lock.

Chris

Unfortunatly nothing is fool(theft)proof. My setup consists of a hood lock which is simular to the idea in the archives, only mine is done with a cable for ease of installation. It can be cut rather easily though, but it might discourage someone from opening my hood uninvited.

My setup also consists of no exterior trunk lock at all, the hole is welded shut and smoothed over. Its opened on remote solenoid. My battery and starter solenoid are in the trunk, and I have a toggle switch for the ignition to solenoid wire. Pop the trunk, flip the switch, close the trunk. Car won't start w/ key. I also have a on/off switch to the main starter wire.. but its only for shutting the power off in emergencies.

No door handles helps some. But if someone wanted in the car, they could easily go through the window, and if they want the car, they could just toss it on a trailer.

You just gotta hope luck is rolling your way.

Wes

One of the conditions of the classic car insurance I bought requires you to keep the car in a garage. I have that, lots of people don't. I like the things Wes has done and would add a switch to open or better yet ground out the ignition if it is the point type.

There is one other think that works well if you are lucky enough to catch the thief in action, a Springfield 1911 A1 .45 loaded and ready to rock! I keep several for these scum bags, so far no problem!

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Wally
Gold #67
67 malibu

My dad has a ' 86 Silverado 4x4, factory hugger orange, it was special ordered. They installed a kill switch on it, so if you park it, you flip the switch, it kills all power to the distributor.It'll turn over and over, but no fire.That won't help if they have a roll back now, but it helps his piece of mind when they drive it anywhere out of town.Just a thought, Radio Shack has the toggle switches for cheap!

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Mounted an NHRA Master cutoff behind the emergency brake release. Pull the release=no power. Push it in=power.

Anyone installed a Low Jack?? Seems you could get the car back, if you know it was stolen.

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Gold Member #164
sites.netscape.net/1969ss/homepage (http://sites.netscape.net/1969ss/homepage)
San Diego CA.

a couple of years ago i read an article in a car mag. It was about a way to toggle an off/on switch if you have an electric fuel pump. Giving the car as much gas as whats in the carb basically. Hopefully giving you enough time to get betsy. And remember.... "he said he was going to kill me" Just keep paroting that back to the cops, and keep the details as simple and vague as possible. Don't deviate from your initial story either, no matter what they try saying to you. Happy hunting

A good one is your other car/truck. What I mean is if I'am going anywhere where the Elk,Camaro,Vett is going to be outta my direct line of sight or not have my skinny butt in it,I take the ol 3/4 ton truck. It's ulgly enough that I'am sure that's going to be where I left it.

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Harley
69 461 El Camino Nitrous Model
69 Chevelle coupe
71 SS Camaro
75 L-82 Corvette
71 Gremlin X
Kerrville,Tx.

I have a toggle switch under the dash on my Vette which has to be on for the ignition to work; the key is only to crank the starter. I also carry in the glove box of my cars a coil wire that has the insides pulled out of it. Looks just like the correct coil wire but the motor sure won't run.

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Bob (Creedmoor,N.C.)
65 Vette B&M Blown, Richmond 5-speed
68 Malibu B&M Blown, Turbo 350 10" converter

In addition to ignition kill switch and hood lock, I have used (when parked outdoors overnight once a year) a bicycle cable type lock run through a slot on a front wheel and around the spindle to hopefully discourage a "tow away" theft. Hopefully the cable would lock up the wheel before the cable breaks. If nothing else, the appearance might prevent an attempt. von

Chris, it wasn't me, it was Wes in tech that put up the hood lock trick. I'm seriuosly considering it. Check Tech Reference. I've also read an article many moons ago about using microswitches , tiny little switches, which are easy to conceal. I'm urgently going to research this over the winter ( storage season here in Buffalo)and apply what I find.

The trick with such things is that you don't want to broadcast your trick all across the web. It's a totally public forum remember. Maybe it can be an added benefit in the "members only" section for authorized users only. If any of you EE types have any neat suggestions, maybe we can set up a private area, password protected, to share thoughts.

Whaddya' think Al?



[This message has been edited by Gene Chas (edited 09-24-99).]

"The Club" works great and is guaranteed by the manufacturer. Plus it's a low cost highly secure option. I use it and have had no problems.

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Bob
Merrimack, NH
TC Gold Member #169
N.E. Chevelle & El Camino Assoc. #085
bob70@chevelles.com

Anybody ever thought of brake solenoid wired to another battery like say a trunk mounted? That way, even if they did want to tow it, they would have to jack it up and put dollies under the wheels which = lots of time. Just a thought.

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Joe Y.
68 malibu
Bloomington/Normal, IL

Mine is either in the locked garage....or when it's out it's never out of my sight...or I leave my wife or 14 year old son standing guard duty. Who would want a restored 64 Chevelle Malibu SS anyway?

well they are all leagal ways but if the guy gets cought he will be in jail maybe a month i say if you hear your car or notice something have your trusty gun ready and shoot the asses!!!
maybe it is a little way out there but damn the less there is the better
PS when shooting don't shott the crap out of your car defeats the purpose of saving the car!!!

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OWNER OF A 66 CHEVELLE MALIBU
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/nascar97/Chevelle.html page about the progress on my resto. still being made

I have a setup like Mad Max in the Road Warrior - if someone starts the car without flipping the toggle switch first, the car explodes. That way I know if someone's trying to steal it so I can call the cops.

Really though, I have a toggle switch on the back of the shifter console (up against the bench where you can't really see it) that's inline with the neutral lockout switch, and a battery disconnect switch on the battery (which isn't all that useful without a hood lock), and I've pulled two plug wires out before - left them in place on the distributor but pulled out until they weren't making contact.

There's a little ritual I have to go through also because the neutral safety switch doesn't quite work right too. I have to place a butter knife in between the contacts of the switch and pull them away from each other before the car will start. It's really a bug, but it's also working for me as something additional that someone would have to do to steal it.

I've heard of using line locks to lockup the brakes, also.

Ignition kill and fuel kill, if they figure out the ignition, they can't get far on the fuel in bowls. And park it in the garage

Ignition kill and fuel kill, if they figure out the ignition, they can't get far on the fuel in bowls.

Good advice about not shooting up the car. I had a cop shoot a hole in the front fender of my 65. He was in pursuit of a bank robber in the parking lot, got of a round and it splashed the window washer tank.

Use a large slow moving round like a .45, a hit anywhere on the body will take them down.

Shotguns are nice at close range, but there is so much spread some of the shot will hit you car.

I had a thief try to steal my 56 chevy when I lived at home, many moons ago, got off one round and took out his rear window. My old man was pissed, never had any more problem!

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Wally
Gold #67
67 malibu

Wally, never knew you were such a gunslinger! Good show ol' boy!

Gene, just little holes in paper targets when I have the chance. I was collecting .45s but the cost to do the chevelle and collecting made it real hard to do both. So I put that on hold to do the chevelle.

I have to many projects going, need to finish up a couple and get restarted on the chevelle.



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Wally
Gold #67
67 malibu

I use the Grant steering wheel removal kit. I've had it over 5 years works great. I also use a club on my other car but the thiefs just cut through the steering wheel and the club is gone.
My brother had his car stolen and the thief left it down the block from his house and drove around with his wheels and tires. The cops said since he didnt have any ID on the parts nothing they can do. Since that time I've made up an ID # and engrave it all over the car and parts and put them in logbook.
All car thieves should be hung from their pvt parts in public!

Mine is usually in the garage or at the shop and both are alarmed but when it's out and about; My hood is locked with a pad lock and short piece of chain; I use a battery quick disconnect on the ground that I can reach without unlocking the hood. I unscrew it and take it with me; I use a club that locks the brake pedal to the steering wheel; and I have a hidden switch for my electric fuel pump. Combined these things ought to slow em down a bit. mgg

Ya, here you guys go again! Telling the world where your tricks are and how they work. Don't you think the guys that steal your prize and joy get on this site and read all about your security toys. Come on. Keep it to yourself. This was posted earlier this year. Stop it!!

Mark

Fortunetly my car has'nt been stolen. I do have a pretty nifty security system. I have a Clifford Inteliguard 800 with blackjack. I have 3 solenoids that deadbolt 3/8 stainless steel rods into the hood and doors. I have two sirens and a backup battery. A negative arming ignition relay, and lowjack(witch doesnt work well) If you want to steal my car you will have a real hard time.

Calm down COPO. I think's it a good idea to share ideas that will make our cars safer. There are hundreds of different ways to secure a car. I doubt that your average car thief is scanning this web page hoping to find out how the chevelle owner across town (just one of tens of thousands) is securing his car so he can go over and steal it. That doesn't make sense.
So what if someone finds out that people are locking their hoods. They'll find that out when they try to open it. That still leaves them with the problems of defeating the hood lock. That goes for all security systems. He knows the car has an alarm by the flashing light on the console, but he still has to defeat the alarm. A skilled car thief will be able to do that whether or not I advertise that I have an alarm. I know the cadillac next door has a Viper alarm (by the little sticker on the window), but does little to help me steal it.
I don't want to be argumentative, but I think it is a great idea for us to help each other avoid being victims of car thiefs. If an idea posted by one guy keeps another guy from getting his chevelle lifted, that's a good thing. If you don't want people to know how your car is protected, then don't respond to this question. Thanks

Well said JohnC!!! Paranoia is a GOOD thing when it comes to what's important!

My personal favorite device is a coil, or ignition kill switch. Crank your heart out, and you'll never hear me fixin' to blow your brains out, with my old Colt .45 ACP.

To quote G. Gordon Liddy...
"Aim for the head, and Squeeeeeeze the trigger"

Dave H.
Houston

The Club is junk. Only take 2 seconds to break the steering wheel, hack saw or 2 snips of a bolt cutter and VOILA you;re driving away. Although I'll admit it is somwhat of a deterrant. Just don't put to much stock in it. Great ideas on how to prevent a car from starting. Any other ideas on how to prevent it from being towed? Loved the wheel /spindle / cable idea....

It used to be a big thing for car thieves to leave the club laying where the car was.

I'm thinking a second battery powering a line lock on the brakes would help against towing, and even drive away theft... any thoughts?

Dave H.
Houston

(Love my old Gov't model 45!!!!)

If you could get one of those boots the city uses when you don't pay your parking tickets that would be a great device to have. We should come up with a device like that.