Poll: Car Anti-Theft solutions

[OldCarPilot]

What do you all use too keep your ride in your driveway? Any unique and fool proof solutions?

[hankcash]

garage

[Kojack]

Well, a simple trick I used and a friend of mine did on his Mustange is pull that center pin out of the inside of the cap on the distributer that presses against the rotor for spark to the coil. That sucker won't ever start and it's gonna take a theif forever to figure it out.

But that only works if the bastard doesn't have a trailer.

[Fat Hack]

A baseball bat with long nails driven through it! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Petejoe]

Nothing can stop a professional but I have two hidden shutoff switched. One for the ignition and one for the power to the battery. I tie the pit bull to the bumper on full moon nights.

[4t64rd]

I leave it many pieces as I can in the garage... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I also have an alarm, motion detector floodlights, and 2 basset hounds who are light sleepers. I also have 3 P.O.S. daily drivers parked outside. The Turdvan(tm), the 'fridge, and the G.F's Saturn Lezmobile.

[sawzall]

battery shutoff switch.. and I usually drop the suspension down (air ride) so the truck sits on the pavement and the robber couldnt move it if he wanted to..

later sawzall

[Bruce Lancaster]

On a car belonging to a friend in Queens, NYC I used a three-way switch for the shutoff switch: Run, Off, and a wire to a horn relay hooked to the biggest set of Caddy horns in the junkyard.
Don't EVER park in Queens--that poor car had FOUR steering columns destroyed by thieves--it never went, anywhere, though. I think I could still change a G body GM steering column with my eyes closed...

[Andy]

I made a big heavy bar that I attatch to the rear end at the u-joint. A great big lock and a confined space means that the car can't be moved without jacking it up. On trips I back the car in a spot and hope that I would hear the tires squeal if it was draged.

[Buick59]

a loaded 12 gauge shot gun is always a few steps from my bed.

[Kevin Lee]

WOW, It took a full nine posts before someone said it.

[Deuce Rails]

I like the idea of rigging up a fire suppression system with CN tear gas (or the legal equivilent). Nice, non-lethal, and effective. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[bigron]

i read somewhere about hooking the door switch for the lights thru another 3 pos switch hidden in a fenderwell thats hooked to the horn. that way when the switch is set to the "horn pos" when the door is opened the horn sounds emediatley.

[Jester]

run your battery through a voltage amplifier and hook up an insolated aligator clip to under the door jam. Works good to keep cats off the car too http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Roothawg]

Both times my stereo was stolen it was because I got lazy and thought......I'll lock the doors later.

1st time it was done by someone, we're assuming, was a stereo installer somewhere. They never destroyed anything. The guy had tools, diked the wires, left the coverplate for the opening etc.

2nd time was a neighbor kid and I caught him later with some of my stuff....he saw the berry house over that one. But, he destroyed the dash. MORON.

I kick myself for not locking the cars.
I have since installed 4 security lights on various areas of the house, took down the stockade gate, so I can see out from the garage door, bought a German Shepherd, and installed an alarm on the house.

They say thieves hate noise and light so I try and accomodate them. Sorry this is a little off in left field...

[modernbeat]

All my neighbors are scared of me. Seriously, they are.

When I'm somewhere else, I don't care. It's well insured and I don't leave too much attractive crap in it.

On the old cars - that's different. My old cars have never been hit, and I leave them unlocked. Good karma maybe? Luck and more luck? I travel a lot, and have traveled my entire live - even pre driver's license. Only had 3 break ins. In '99 a bum slept in a VW camper parked in front of my home, in '90 a '67 Surburban 4x4 ski vehicle loaded with climbing, ski, and kyaking gear was stolen in Brooklyn (recovered with minor window damage and no gear a week later), and in '86 a rental Toyota had it's trunk popped in Manhattan. Oh, someone left a parking lot bumper scuff on the front quarter of my '89 Merkur XR4Ti back in '82 or so. That's it for vehicular transgressions against me.

If I had a '55 Chevy or a '68 Camaro, or any early Mustang I might be more worried. Those are much more popular cars that are more generic and easy to part out. I think I'd make sure I had garage parking at home and work, use an ignition disabler, and purchase a LoJack if the cost of replacement warrented it. If it's worth that much, then I'd have it insured, and claim the discount offered for the LoJack.

Other old car stuff? Haven't done this, but make sure the ignition in the dash is bolted in with security bolts, not hex heads or normal screws. If the wires are accessable by reaching under the dash, make a plate that shields the wires and/or a clamp that makes it difficult to unplug them fromt he back of the ignition.

I've been un-nerved by the number of old cars that have dashboard ignition (like '67 Chevy trucks) that all I have to do to start them is plug the ignition wires into a cheapo vintage-VW keyed ignition that hangs under the dash. That and a slim-jim could mean by-by truck.

[daign]

Kill switch wired in a VERY well hidden place to the battery.

If someone wants the car bad enough they'll get a tow truck and drag it down the street. Park with your wheels turned....

-Dane

[OldCarPilot]

Interesting reading the posts so far. No one seems to use car alarms? A kill switch for the battery does seem the best. That way they can't make the starter move at all. What kind of switch could handle the amps?
I personally am more worried about when I go to the store or something more than at home. The car is in a garage when its at home, but I would like it to be a daily driver as much as possible. The down side of the 57 Belair is its a likely target for theft.

[repoguy]

Well, in my experience the most targeted vehicles (thankfully) aren't our cars, but newer cars like Hondas & Cadillac Escalades. About 90% of the stolen recoveries I've looked at had one thing in common - the mode of theft was simply breaking the steering column cover so that the ignition apparatus could be manipulated without needing the keys. Most every modern car thief goes through the steering column.

The solution? I've only seen a few of them, but they work. It's basically a steel sleeve with a locking mechanism & a hinge so it splits open. You close it over the steering column, lock it, and leave it.

Recently one of my agents in Chicago recovered a vehicle with one of these devices & had to remove it in order to have ignition keys made. Now keep in mind that this is a guy who is in the business, and it took him a week to figure out how to remove this device. He finally ended up getting a diamond tipped blade to cut it off, and he said it took quite a while.

Outside of parking in the garage, or parking it in the immediate vicinity of a capable guard dog, I'd say this is one of the best things I've seen. Say what you want about shotguns & whatever, but I used to pull 5 to 10 cars a night and rarely got caught by anyone, and I was using a tow truck most of that time!

[OldCarPilot]

The down side there is that the ignition is in the dash of a lot of these older cars. Doing the rewire on this thing I am finding that things were so simple back then, VERY easy to hotwire if you wanted to!

[Bruce Lancaster]

On steering column approach on late models: with the three-way switch above, the car stayed where it was even though on at least three occasions the ignition/start switch was fully operable through the destroyed column--that suggests that the switch set on horn mode did its job of rattling the thief's cool after he thought he was about to score, but it also means that I should have had some sort of primary system meant to stop said thief from wrecking the column in the first place.
What should I have had? I never considered alarms, because I knew they did no good in NYC, but I really don't know what serious thieves actually do about alarms.
I suspect home made solutions here would be good because thieves know the ins and outs of commercial systems. How do you approach the problem of discouraging entry so the thief can't get to the job of figuring out your tricks or simply breaking stuff??

[Django]

I'm hoping to run the original ignition set up in my '36? There is really no way to protect that is there?

Where is a good place to put the kill switch that is accesible enough that you don't get lazy, but hidden enough that it's not obvious? That's always been a dilemma of mine.

[Scott B]

I keep everything really dark - and I cover the drive with banana peels, and I leave rakes and what not in the yard.

When I hear the wackiness start, I flip on the lights and laugh and laugh. Oh, it is great!

[manyolcars]

I put a toggle switch out of sight for my electric fuel pump. A Thief can start the car but only get a few feet and the carb runs dry and will not start.

[modernbeat]

OldCarPilot, you don't want the kill to disable the starter. Just the ignition! That way the crook will crank and crank and crank trying to get your heap started and hopefully not know to look for an ignition cutout. If he knows right away to look for it, I think it would be easy to spot, particularly in our bare-bones cars.

Good places to hide a switch? Hide it in an existing knob or switch. Make it so the door has to be locked to start, or you have your foot on the "dead pedal", or you have to push the modified cigar lighter in, or open the ash tray, or or or...micro switches can be our friends! Don't make it so that you have to hold down a momentary switch behind the passenger's seat to start. That will get old fast, and it's obvious to anyone watching what you're doing.

[50mercfan]

i'va got a factory battery cut off from a late model mercedes. it has a big plastic key that you can remove and take with you. it's hidden under the fenderwell. i run my constant hot for the radio straight to the battery. the cut off hooks directly to the battery and you hook the battery cable to the other end. couldn't be simpler

[Kilroy]

Never... ...Ever!... Stop driving.

Also, I fart a lot in my cars so I think ne'er-do-wells (and my dearest friends) avoid them for fear of olfactory degradation.

(In all seriousness, if they want it bad enough, they'll get it... I park my most valuable cars, 10 feet from my bedroom window with my dog in between. The less important the car, the farther down the driveway it goes.)

[InPrimer]

for 50's/60's cars wire from coil to dist, splice into cigarette lighter, car cannot start without pushing in lighter, pull lighter after parking car breaking the connection

[Paul]

Alarm system, motion detector lights, gated drive, locked garage, and lots of nosy neighbors for the hot rods,

a large dead fall over the cars in the drive,

and when I go the store I take the battery in with me.

[Fat Hack]

Bigiron...that was the crude alarm I rigged up on one of my old Chevelles. Once "armed" the door jamb switch set off the horn. Low-buck and simple...all I could think of as a 16 year old car guy!

One toggle switch and some wire is all ya need!

(Well, and a horn that WORKS...along with functional door jamb switches! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

[Dooley]

Django i have a kill switch mounted under the dash on the firewall of my 36 convert. It has three postiions, on , off and take the key out and carry it with you.

If you tried you could jump it but then you would have to open the hood and find it first.

I also hear you can run a toggle switch to the negative side of the coil and with that in the off pos. the motor would spin, but not fire.

Would also work as a oil prime as well I guess.

[Fat Hack]

Back in high school, I used to pull my coil wire and carry it with me all day...low tech again!

[forsakenfew]

i did the ol' cigarette lighter kill switch bit. worked great, cept every now and again, i'd be cruising down the road hit a bump and the lighter would shoot out of the dash and roll under the seat. not alot of fun to get a power steering and braking 62 olds to the side of the road when the motor dies.

oh, and if you ever sell the car, make sure you tell the person buying the car of this little security measure.

i sold the olds a few months ago and neglected to tell the folks about the lighter. just plain slipped my mind. well, i get a call a few days later. "car hasn't started in 2 days, been through everything. changed points, rotor, set timing, blah blah blah." "what kind of lemon did you sell me?"

turns out when they got it home, they were just sitting in it figuring things out, pushing buttons, pulling knobs, etc. they pulled the lighter and put it back in like anybody would who didn't want it to get hot.

we had a good laugh, and i bought some beers to make up for it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Django]

You guys doing the lighter thing... how does that work without the thing working as a lighter, ie getting hot, car burning to the ground, etc...

[LIMEY]

I wrap a big ass steel cable around the rear end & around the nearest lamp post, stops them gettin away but sure fooks my car up!

Seriously though i never leave it parked & the workshop is double bolted & alarmed through my house alarm.

[wingnutz]

I welded a quarter inch plate bracket to the floor and Padalocked the shifter in "Park", plus I had a kill switch under the drivers seat as well as an electric fuel pump shut-off switch! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

This not only acted as a theft deterant..., but also doubled as a "Sobriety" tester..., If I couldn't get the thing runnin after a few hours I'd call a cab...!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Mark

[BELLM]

My system seems to work well, I just keep hauling rusty shit home and never finish anything. No engine, no wheels & tires = hard to steal.

Seriously if a thief wants your car he is gonna get it. Park it where a wrecker cant get to it. Any of the above mentioned things that will slow thief down will help. I'm more worried about having good carb, ignition, wheels etc stolen on car with no hood when parked while away from home. If you are running a GM column the cover repoman mentioned is excellent.

[SKR8PN]

when it is parked in my drive......
an electric fence charger,clipped to the front bumper(or anything steel) When they get ZAPPED,they usually scream loud enough to wake up Mr. Browning....
When it is parked out and about.....
A hidden kill switch,a baby monitor,and a very good friend that helps keep things under control.....Mr.Ruger.

[jonizzle]

[ QUOTE ]
Back in high school, I used to pull my coil wire and carry it with me all day...low tech again!


[/ QUOTE ]

I did that one too and told my dad about it. he was like you know an 8 can still run on 7 cylinders.

I haven't done this yet but plan on doing it. i won't use a switch or anything but the mechanism for the gas tank selector. you just wire it to open for fuel when the car is turned off, that way when the ignition is off it won't allow fuel to flow. but making sure the fuel lines are in the right holes. this is because they operate on having no power or power. that fuel selector switch would just cut the power to the solenoid so that even if it was switched to tank two when there was no power it flips to tank one. but then when there is power back on it switches back to tank two and you can go. basically the same as a cutoff for the electric pump but seems like you could hide the wires easier. just need a place to mount it and disguise wire spliced into the ignition harness.

[flying clutchman]

a loaded .45 caliber pistol, a can of gas and some matches http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

[OldCarPilot]

jonizzle,

If you pull the actual COIL wire off, the distributer can't get voltage to fire any of the spark plugs. And the v8s will defenatly run on only 7 cyls. Had that happen more than once.

[nzsimon]

A piece of steel cut so it fits between the florr and the pedals with a simple flip over piece and a padlock
You cant push any of the pedals down and it is too confined to cut the padlock off simple and low buck you could even use 1" plywood if you can't cut steel out and a simple steel flat piece over the top

[FEDER]

I lost 2 stereos years ago REALLY pissed Me off.So the next one I installed, I soldered tri barbed fish hooks on each side of it with the hooks facing up.Figured if some asshole went to get that one Ide catch Him cause Hed be (hooked).Then I could beat him with a shovel till he tore his hand loose.Never got to do it nobody tried stealin it.So solder tribarbed hooks under youre ignition switch to the bottom of yer dash hooks up remember and around yer radio.Then all ya need is a shovel leanin next to the door you can grab on yer way out.---Feder

[Rocknrod]

I always ponder what a piece of chain going to two tires would do to a robbers brain... i can roll it half a turn in either direction... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[OldCarPilot]

Rocknrod,

That is the best idea yet!

[Fat Hack]

Actually, a well tuned engine can run on HALF of it's cylinders!

I had the header off of my Chevelle on one side, and put it back on without plugging those four wires back in. Fired the car up and tried to drive it...thinking, "Man, is it ever doggin' today!". Then, I thought of it, and shut it off...to go hook up the four plug wires!

Did it again on my two cyliner Honda chopper...left one plug wire off and took for a ride...bogging and really slow till it dawned on me...d'oh!!

[InPrimer]

Django, the lighter receiver gut is taken out, put in a push on switch, so when the lighter is pushed in, it pushes on the button completing the circuit when you want to disable pull lighter out and the button is released therebybreaking the circuit

[Hot Rod To Hell]

I have a master disconnect for the battery, if they turn that on, the keay has to be turned on for the electric fuel pump or ignition to come on, I have a hidden kill switch wired in for the MSD ignition, and then I have an oil pressure cutoff switch, so the ignition dies (or just never gets hot) if the oil pressure is below 15 psi, and I wired in a toggle switch for that, as you have to bypass it to get the car started. On top of that, it's a 10 second small block car with 3" dual flowmasters, so if it does somehow start, me and my firearms are going to have a talk with the "bad guy" http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
As far as shit gettin stolen, I just don't keep anything important in it, and leave the door unlocked so they don't bother breaking the windows to find out it's empty.

[drgnwgn289]

my car is protected with the "Ruger Security System". I went with the deluxe .44 Model, but they make lesser versions such as the .41 and the .357, all good systems.
I also have a fuel shut off, power shut off and a very tempermental shifter...

[modernbeat]

Tempremental Shifter - yeah, forgot about that one. A lot of my cars have been Chevys with a straight six and three on the tree. Once those bushings go out on the shifter, it can be a devil to get it in gear!

[mikes51]

Like Nzsimon's except a plate over and around the side of the pedals, heavy gauge.
A padlock attaches the plate to a loop on the steering column. A piece of square tubing on the plate that the padlock fits into. The padlock is inside the tube completely except for the area for the key.

[Tman]

The tuff guy thing is fine but have any of you EVER got to confront a theif? A buddy did, he happens to be 6'3" 300 lbs throws the Caber and Hammer in the Scottish games. He has a Rot that is a good 140 pounds. He heard a noise outside one night, him and dog went out to find two guys in the middle of removing the front clip of his Chevelle. The dog grabbed one guys crotch, Mark cornered the other. All he did was let them know he knows who they are. Told them to get the fuck out. If ANYTHING is ever stolen from his yard, THEY will be seeing him, regardless of guilt. This was 10 years ago, it is funny to watch them avoid him at the swap meet each year!! Yeah, they were "car" guys.

[Humboldt Cat]

Makes me wonder how many thiefs are takin' notes, now... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I haven't been daily driving my truck, lately, so I often disconnect the relay lead from the starter (at the relay, on the firewall). Thief won't even get as far turning the starter over (and draining the battery).
My '57 has a power/tilt steering column from a '76 Caddilac. The cab is wired to stock dash ignition, but to keep the steering wheel from locking up, you need a key for that, which always stays there.
When friends tell me, "Hey, you left the key in the ignition?", I ask 'em WHICH ignition." Reminds of how I need to figure out a way to bypass that key-lock. Heck, I once had an Elko that didn't need a key to unlock it. Just grip 'n twist to fire it up.
Planning on getting a battery cut-off switch soon.

[hillbilly]

an aquaintance of mine back in arkansas had a repo business before he got into drugs, the thing was truly amazing to see in action, all you had to do was pull up to the rear of the car (if RWD) or front if FWD, the thing went down to the ground, slid UNDER the vehicle, then these "arms" folded out, via hydraulic power, then the whole shabang goes up, you pull away, never heard....

scary actually, the guy used to sell parts that were of the kind you didnt ask of their origins, I slept with the '56 beside my bedroom window, and a 4.5" bbl SAA in .45lc with the hammer on an empty slot in the cylinder in a western holster attatched to the bed...nothin can stop a theif unless he CANNOT MOVE THE VEHICLE...

the two types would be this: the kind that get in it and try to drive it away, I have thought of all kinds of things to keep that from happening, such as a steel plate made to hold about 16 12 guage rds of buckshot sitting business end UP under the drivers side seat, with some sort of mechanism to fire all 16 at once should someone attempt to take my pride and joy, but common sense told me NO, firstly because my little boy likes my car, and likes to get in it...secondly, because I am a forgetful type, and dont exactly want a leaded enema...

second would be the type that pulls it away with another vehicle, these are the bastards I am most cautious of...some sort of anchored attatchment points, heavy HEAVY steel, concreted in the ground, with LOG CHAIN attatched via some sort of heavy locks should prevent your vehicle from being pulled away, this, combined with the electric fence unit mentioned in an earlier reply, should prevent ANY person from getting away with it...

if anyone uses my shotgun shell idea, I placed it here for entertainment purposes only, I shall not be libel for any damages related to it's further development and/or usage...

but...if you do use it, take pics of the sorry punk that was unfortunate enough to get all that lead in his ass...would be a good photo to put in a window warning potential theives what happened to the LAST guy who tried to steal a car http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[ChrisinPhilly]

Legal update...If you shoot and kill a guy who is stealing your car you will be arrested and charged with Homicide. Please don't get on my shit about this, I don't write the laws.

[InPrimer]

its my understanding the only acceptable way of killing/shooting someone is if they sucessfully enter your home, then you have a right to defend yourself. If you blast away at someone outside for "stealing" your hubcaps etc, yea the cops will charge you with attempted murder or... aint worth it thats why they have 911, no need to go to jail for a piece of metal IMO

[Hot Rod To Hell]

Yeah, but if you have a CCW, and confront him, and he comes at you with ANYTHING that could be considered a weapon, WASTE HIS ASS!

[wingnutz]

Cripes I've heard of thieves sueing home owners because their dog bit them while trying to break in...! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif and some "B-ass-turds" win! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I guess we should insure heavily and call 911 as our rights are diminished less than the criminals! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Mark

[Deyomatic]

My dog kept going NUTS last night, a few times, like someone was outside. Unfortunately, all of our outside lights are useless because the previous owners hired Mickey Mouse himself to do all the wiring. I couldn't see anything from inside the house so I kept having to go outside and look. I brought a hammer with me, being reminded of the way they dealt with the theives in the movie "Casino."
Of course, nothing was there, and I know my dog is crazy, but every now and then he is warranted.

[wingnutz]

Speaking of Guard dogs..., there's a guy in central Texas with about 10-20 acres of cars in his yard and he hasn't had any problems with thieves..., since most of his gaurd dogs slither and rattle..., (tons of them)! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[SKR8PN]

[ QUOTE ]
Cripes I've heard of thieves sueing home owners because their dog bit them while trying to break in...! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif and some "B-ass-turds" win! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I guess we should insure heavily and call 911 as our rights are diminished less than the criminals! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Mark

[/ QUOTE ]

What about the dumbass thief that broke in, got himself locked in these peoples garage for like a week....had to live off dog food and a couple cans of pop. He sued THEM,because the design of the house,the door and the garage door,wouldn't let him escape http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif Musta been one of them real SMART thieves.......

[jonizzle]

[ QUOTE ]
If you pull the actual COIL wire off, the distributer can't get voltage to fire any of the spark plugs.

[/ QUOTE ]

my bad...i read it like the wire from the coil to the dizzy.

[Rocknrod]

Heres another idea...

Throw some coils of chain on the underside of the car, welded to each side of the frame. Just a couple links, even with the ujoints coming off the tranny... drop a piece of steel in between those ujoints an lock it to the chain... (holes in the rod of steel...)

Instant stall for a manual...

idea 2... Use a line lock, set it up so all 4 can be locked at one time, but have 2 different solenoids one for the front, one for the back. Have a power disconnect on the dash, leaves the solenoids in the extended position... the roll away will make a lil more noise then normal!

One more... Weld a metal strip inside the door to stop the "slimjim" from being able to reach the lock rod... or dont use a lock rod, have the latch down on the inside across from the door lock.

or... equip the car with power windows, weld a bung into the doors close to the back of the seats, have a screw in loop to attach a piece of steel cable all the way across between both doors. Gotta break the window to beat that lock...

One other that i've pondered, mount a steal pin in the rear fenderwell that slides into the drivers/pass door, locks into place... Then have a chop job tahts impossible to climb through the window! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Deyomatic]

I wonder if it is possible to get a "boot" in some kind of police auction? That would be the best, for when you go away on long trips and the car is unattended. Snap the boot around the front wheel and they'll have a hell of a time trying to get it on the trailer and nobody's going to drive off with it, except Homer Simpson! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Rocknrod]

ya...

Could always put a roll bar in it, get a big honking rotiserie and flip it upside down on a padded surface... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[slammed]

Bttt.

[61Lancerwagon]

I am a fan of the BIG ASSED DOG idea. Also the double barrel and the cut off switches.

Unfortunately locks mainly just keep honest people honest.

Convincing your state that like horse theft in the old days it should be a hanging offense would be a start, but not likely to work, too many liberals.

[wingnutz]

Sears has a remote battery shut off and I'd include a couple of hidden toggle switches as well...!

My 34 Coupe had a padalock hasp on the floor so that I could lock the shifter in reverse...!

Other than that..., I'd insure heavily..., because if someone really wants your car..., they'll get it...!:eek:

[RotHod]

Ive had one truck stolen and one attempt at another. Both had kill switches but the one that was stolen got lazy and didnt use the switch, learned my lesson. Second one used the kill switch all the time and payed off cause they tried and tried to start it but gave up. The only problem with a kill switch is that thief will usually destroy something to try and start it before he realizes he cant, like the steering column. It would be nice to have something that would chase them off before they start destroying shit.

I have just spliced into the clutch safety switch with a hidden toggle on late model cars, it works and its too small and dark to get under the clutch pedal and try and rewire the switch if they do find the source.

I too have heard of people soldering razor blades, etc under the dash but damn I dont want them bleeding all over my car! Probably get sued anyway!

[1oldtimer]

run a kill switch to the neg side of coil to interupt the signal. make it looks as factory as possible so they might miss it. you can hotwire it and it still won't start. i was also thinking to put a few anchors into the driveway and some hefty chain.

[cosmo]

I like the anti-theft paint job - charcoal grille black :D

Another: drive an AMC product...

Or,
Drive this:

[Boones]

garage at home, pull coil wire and a car cover while on the road. (just added door locks a few months ago

[OldCarPilot]

Wow... Posted this over a year ago! Now its back. Does have some pretty good info though.

[NITROFC]

kaboom ....

[HillBillytheKid]

I just pulled out the coil wire when I parked the 39...I didn't have any way to lock the hood sides, so that was my solution.

[Digger_Dave]

As someone said, "Well all the thieves are probably making notes!"

The subject of "Anti-Theft solutions" has been around the block a number of times.

What follows is a piece I wrote about a couple of years ago.

The subject of "theft prevention devices" became a hot subject with a lot of discussion on devices or methods of slowing down someone trying to steal your "ride". The subject became the basis of my article. In, "Is your street rod worth stealing?"

The reference to "rollbacks" and "Lojack's" resulted in an e-mail from one of the members. I had mentioned that rollbacks (platform trucks where the deck rolls back and drops to the ground and equiped with a winch) were hard to beat, and received the following;

Skip Readio wrote:

“To help put this all into perspective, a few years ago my friend Bobby Wright got a call to remove a late model car from the walkway in front of the local Cumberland Farms convenience store. Seems someone couldn't be bothered putting a nickel into the parking meter out on the street so they parked in the only available spot in front of the door at the Cumberland Farms and went off to do whatever they needed to do.

We (Bobby and I) took his rollback over to the store and proceeded to drag it up onto the bed. No open-the-windows or try and unlock the car. Just put the hook on it and drag it up.

The front wheels were turned to the right but the floor jack under the engine made short work of that issue.

The alarm was blaring, people were going about their business and nobody called the cops.

This all happened in broad daylight, mid morning, in downtown Maynard, Mass., home of Digital Equipment Corporation. This car was, most likely, an employee's car we were "stealing". NOBODY bothered us. We took it to the "impound" yard behind Bobby's service station and locked it up.

How safe is your car? It isn't. As far as I know, Lojack is the only proven device for getting your car back.

It won't prevent it from being stolen and, if the thief has a signal strength meter, it won't even help you get the car back 'cause they'll tear the car apart to find what's set off the needle in their meter and destroy the Lojack box.

There are also some sections of Boston (suburbs) where the cops won't go to retrieve a car with a broadcasting Lojack without substantial backup.

Bottom line is, your car isn't the slightest bit immune to being stolen and even a Lojack isn't totally foolproof.

.... But it's your best bet. Unfortunately, it only works in a few states.”

Regards,

Skip Readio

For those not familiar with Lojack systems, they are an electronic signaling device that remains silent but gives off a radio signal indicating its location when set off by the local police department or security company that you have the service with. The company that sells Lojack systems likes to point out that their recovery rate is very good. They show in one ad a vehicle that had been stolen 15 min. earlier was stopped by the police. The guy that had stolen the car had no idea how the police found him.


A story about Lojack devices was sent to me that I have not been able to verify. But it was too good to pass up!

A large city on the west coast had Lojack service available. The police had been trying to break up a “high end” (expensive) car theft ring. Finally a theft was reported of a very expensive sports car that was equipped with a Lojack device. The police organized all their back up, and set off the transmitter of the Lojack. By triangulation they determined that the signal was coming from an old warehouse. The police rushed into the warehouse and discovered the stolen device.

The Lojack system was sitting on an old packing crate transmitting its heart out. The rest of the warehouse was empty!

The thieves apparently had discovered the Lojack in the car; removed it carefully, hooked it to a battery, and moved their operation to another location, probably having a good laugh all the way!

Even though ALL of the ideas presented here might slow down a thief and make them give up trying to steal your car; it will always depend on how bad they want it. (or what's inside)

[Cad Carver]

I wonder if it is possible to get a "boot" in some kind of police auction? That would be the best, for when you go away on long trips and the car is unattended. Snap the boot around the front wheel and they'll have a hell of a time trying to get it on the trailer and nobody's going to drive off with it, except Homer Simpson! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

They used to use those at a friend of mine's high school(for parking in the wrong place). Just take the wheel off and use a spare. We sell them at my work, $139.99 dunno if they're police grade(doubt it).

[a boner]

Just put a toggle switch under the dash for the ignition. Then weld 100 razor blades all over the under dash area. Finish up by installing red carpet!!! :)

[Crankshaft Sid]

I use a broken dynaflow on the -53, try to drive away with that!

[HoldFast]

I'll probably install a kill switch. Probably fuel pump or just ignition.

But on the hightech solution. I helped my girlfriend buy a car last night. 2001 golf. We had them install this really cool option.

An alarm by a company called KARR. But it also had a service called car guardian. With their system you can hook the alarm up to a cell phone or home phone. Your alarm goes off..it tells you. It moves...it tells you. You can then call the company or go onto the internet. Pull up their site. Type in your info and see EXACTLY where your car is. You can then call the cops and inform them or push the magic button. Kills the car. Not while their driving or anything like that but once they stop...it won't go anywhere again. Freakin sweet. I damn near had them install it on my WRX.

Better than Lojack. It's also national. Entire US and Canada is covered. Plus it has a replacement guarantee. Cars gone...you get whatever the value of your car was plus whatever it takes to get you the exact same car up to 3 years NEWER.

So for some of you guys that run modern motors or want to run a full on alarm it's a great investment. When my cadi is a bit farther along I'm gonna give it some serious thought.

For now...I"m just gonna install the switch.

[Digger_Dave]

I'll probably install a kill switch. Probably fuel pump or just ignition.

But on the hightech solution. I helped my girlfriend buy a car last night. 2001 golf. We had them install this really cool option.

An alarm by a company called KARR. But it also had a service called car guardian. With their system you can hook the alarm up to a cell phone or home phone. Your alarm goes off..it tells you. It moves...it tells you. You can then call the company or go onto the internet. Pull up their site. Type in your info and see EXACTLY where your car is. You can then call the cops and inform them or push the magic button. Kills the car. Not while their driving or anything like that but once they stop...it won't go anywhere again. Freakin sweet. I damn near had them install it on my WRX.

Better than Lojack. It's also national. Entire US and Canada is covered. Plus it has a replacement guarantee. Cars gone...you get whatever the value of your car was plus whatever it takes to get you the exact same car up to 3 years NEWER.

So for some of you guys that run modern motors or want to run a full on alarm it's a great investment. When my cadi is a bit farther along I'm gonna give it some serious thought.

For now...I"m just gonna install the switch.

When I wrote the article about the Lojack, KARR was just starting up operations.

It sounds even better than the original promos. From what I understand, the KARR system uses some pretty high tech stuff.

Like the replacement guarantee part. Will they will cover a Hot Rod??

[HoldFast]

When I wrote the article about the Lojack, KARR was just starting up operations.

It sounds even better than the original promos. From what I understand, the KARR system uses some pretty high tech stuff.

Like the replacement guarantee part. Will they will cover a Hot Rod??


lojack rips. But from the sounds of it this KARR stuff is unreal.

My girlfriend has all the paperwork. I'd be happy to call them and ask next time I see here.

But I would have to guess that if you got an appraisal. A real one. Took some photos...they'd have to pay you the value. The problem with old cars is that some paper pusher can go to www.kbb.com and see what your car is worth and write you a check for that much. So they have to go off what the value would be stock and original not new or fixed up with possibly thousands of dollars in parts on it. But if you have an appraisal..I know most insurance companies that cover old cars have to honor it.

Be interesting to find out. I'll see what I can figure out and get back to you.

VW is now preinstalled KARR systems in their new cars and certified used cars. It works in conjunction with their stock alarm key fobs and what not. You just have to pay them to turn it on.

[Morrisman]

When I get round to wiring my Morris I shall put a 'start' sticker on the horn button, and a 'horn' sticker on the start button. Both will be on the dash.

And I'll wire a starter bypass switch into the brake light switch. If the brake pedal is not pressed the starter won't kick in. Also for safety as I have no neutral lockout on the tranny.

And if some asshole still manages to start it after that, then they are welcome to it :-)

[Hellfish]

i got this idea the other day: Take one of those micro cameras and hide it in the dash facing the driver, and another one somewhere else, facing forward. Rig them to a motion detector so that they turn on when a door is opened, someone sits down, or a tow truck hooks up to the front. Have the cameras set up like a web cam so that they send the images to a REMOTE location. Now you have a picture of the thief and/or a picture of the tow truck and it's licence plate! Then, you could rig up a recording (like Viper or whatever) that says in English, then Spanish, "You are not authorized to be doing that. I have taken your picture and that picture is stored digitally at my work computer. Leave now and avoid jail time" Or something like that

what do you think?

[oldskool55]

I put a toggle switch out of sight for my electric fuel pump. A Thief can start the car but only get a few feet and the carb runs dry and will not start.

mines like that but itll go about a block then turn off. i forgot to tell the allignment guy about it when he test drove it. he ened up walking back to get me.

[oldskool55]

shaved door handles and no inside handles and latches are behind the seat all my stereo stuff is hidden. beside who wants a 55 f100 thats flat black with green steelies?

[61bone]

Check out the antitheft device at www.trunkmonkey.com:D

[oldskool55]

Check out the antitheft device at www.trunkmonkey.com:D (http://www.trunkmonkey.com<img%20src=)

you mean http://www.trunkmonkeyad.com/4qt.htm ? that shits great though... like how he grabs his crotch after he throws the body off the bridge.

[Jimv]

On my T i put a big lock thru the front rotor( Harley trick),I switch the coil wire at the cap with another one & i set a motion alarm.I do this everytime i park the car, even if it s only for a minute to run into a store, where i can see it!!!
jimV

[MarkX]

Nothing is going to really stop a car thief (can you handle the truth)....... if you have a car they want ....... no kill switch, alarm, goofy column devise, flashing light, or fake camera will stop a TOW TRUCK. some tow trucks( the ones used for Repo have a quick-snag feature ... the driver just backs up to your car and BAM! your S.O.L. .......

If you drive your car to the store, the movies, or your friends house its vulnerable.
If you worried about it out on your driveway at night. use a car cover and, I had an idea that might work. a sort of chain or hook thats cemented into the driveway. or a bar that swings out and closed that can be locked like the car-lots use

Nothing will STOP thieves...... but making it tough will send them down the road

[rustynewyorker]

I just drive a crappy car, or a 4-door. No one wanted a '60 Pontiac sedan, or a '72 (even with the 455 in it). So when the '57 came up I didn't even worry about the extra set of doors. I had that winter beater '84 Skylark too, I could leave the keys right in it and it would always be where I left it. Even downtown.


I'd worry more about vandalism or people stealing parts. The electric fence charger hookup is a good idea if you dont have any electronics it would fry for you. They make solar powered ones, too (they must charge some kind of battery so they work after dark) - you could mount it right in the car. Will mess with the rollback guys too, if they can't disable it somehow - once it's chained to the truck it will go through that too. Then if it would just blow out their computer in the truck.... won't run without that.

[Fifty5C-Gas]

theives dont usually walk around with a coil wire, and you cant start a car without one.

[BIG PORT JIMMY 6]

Every body keeps talking about taking the coil wire, you can use one of the other plug wires in its place. I am wondering about some method of covering the coil connections on my truck. It still has the starter pedal, so you cant disable it, a good jumper and it will run. Jay

[Hotrob]

I have designed my vehicle to be so visually repulsive that the would-be theif is physically unable to steal and object that horrific. At least thats my wifes take on it.

[Hotrob]

I have designed my vehicle to be so visually repulsive that the would-be theif is physically unable to steal and object that horrific. At least thats my wifes take on it.

I have however had problems convincing the trashman to leave it in the driveway. Every time I get a new guy on the route, my wife has to stop them from hauling the peice of crap away.

[safariknut]

I read this post and had a real good laugh.Lots of good ideas and some a little far-out.Here's a couple:one used to available and the other is home-made(and highly illegal in most states).
We used to install alarms that were wired with a hidden switch that allowed you to even leave the keys in the ignition.You could start the car normally but as soon as you put your foot on the brake,the engine shut down and the horn started blaring.Worked pretty well.
The second method also involves the use of the brake pedal but in a slightly different manner.
Basically you rig a steel tube parallel to the steering column that is essentially a zip gun.You load it with .22 caliber ratshot and rig the hammer to trip when the brake pedal is applied.Won't kill anyone but it sure does leave an uncomfortable feeling in the lower abdominal area!
Unfortunately most states have laws against setting gun traps.I suppose you could rig a taser to do the same thing.

[4woody]

My dizzy is real easy to reach, so I take the rotor with me and snap the cap back on so you can't tell anything is missing.

[D.W.]

Legal update...If you shoot and kill a guy who is stealing your car you will be arrested and charged with Homicide. Please don't get on my shit about this, I don't write the laws.
Not in Texas. A repo man was shot AND killed in Texas (Dallas if I remember right). The guy who shot him got off scot-free and did a 60 minutes interview. The local authorities then advised repo guys to " Find another line of work". True story.

[rodwerkz]

theives dont usually walk around with a coil wire, and you cant start a car without one.

Just one last thread to this... what we used to do back in highschool is carry around a FAKE coil wire... We would make up an extra wire but not put a terminal on it... As everybody has been saying, an 8 will run fine on 7 cylinders if the theif substitutes another wire for a missing coil wire... The thing that works with this solution is nothing looks wrong.. You can acheive the same effect by pulling your rotor but that involves popping off your cap and dealing with the other 8 wires..

seems to have worked well.. I still have my first hotrod :)

[W. Jay Kellogg]

Add a kill switch hidden under the dash, Ground one side of it and wire the other side to the coil, The side that goes to the distributer. The car will crank till the battery runs down, but it can't be hotwired till the thief finds that kill switch.

[mr57]

Keep your car lloking like this. It can't be hotwired, you'd need a towtruck to move it, and if it did get loaded up, the tailgate would fall off.....:)

[62fairlane]

I agree on the key in dash theory. without a locking column someone just needs a 3' jumper to get power to the coil and can be off in no time. I run shaved handles and have a beater looking car so that keeps people away from it.

[Jey]

I air mine out, the rockers lay to the ground.


Then i flip the kill switches, 3, 3 way switches, only 1 of the 3 ways works, and all three have to be in the right spot. and they're all hidden somewhere not near each other.


It gives a lot of combinations of switches, so it's hard to "Guess" they all have "wires" connected to them, no matter , because some don't really go anywhere except for into the insilation... looks cool though.


my great-grand pa was HUGE into "inventions" and tinkering. I've been told the story by my grandpa a few times...

He had a 30's something ford, he love it a lot. So he wired up an "alarm".

he pulled the door appart, and put in 4 1x1x2 piece of metal, and drilled a small 1/4 inch hole in the middle of all of them.

welded them inside of the door, and then dropped a wire down the middle of it with weight at the bottom, making sure it was nice and straight.

Then he ran the wire to the horn switch as the ground.

So... if you went up and wiggled the car, it would make the wire "ground" the circuit. and thus, blow the horn.


THe dimentions of the measurements are probably off, but you get the GIST of what he had in mind.

Pretty creative guy. he did a BUNCH of other fun things to his car.

[KCsledz]

a loaded .45 caliber pistol, a can of gas and some matches http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Well since people are going off an tangents anyway... How hard would it be to wire the coils or distributor to a contraption running wires through the front seat. Ya flip a switch that turns the system on then when the guy tries to hot wire the car he gets it in the ass.

I remeber a mean trick played on me as a young lad. I was told to hold a plug wire close to the car body to check spark. Well he had me lean way in so I had alot of contact with the body then cranked the engine over for about 30 seconds. Needless to say I was stuck to the car and screaming for him to stop.

Could work in the car as well! If it didn't start a fire!

[Goober]

I prefer the Von Dutch approach: Since you're building your own car, make it so detailed and confusing that you're the only one who can start it. In St. John's book, he reprints the lengthy written directions on starting and keeping the KenFord truck running. Dig that dash!

http://www.aeclassic.com/von_dutch_kenford/images/03dash.gif

[Jey]

I prefer the Von Dutch approach: Since you're building your own car, make it so detailed and confusing that you're the only one who can start it. In St. John's book, he reprints the lengthy written directions on starting and keeping the KenFord truck running. Dig that dash!

http://www.aeclassic.com/von_dutch_kenford/images/03dash.gif

http://www.aeclassic.com/von_dutch_kenford/images/03control.gif
damn straight, lever's like manual spark and choke and stuff.

[Blownolds]

Not sure if anyone posted it yet or not, but there seems to be some REALLY effective methods at stickdeath.com

[NVRRDUNN]

Just one last thread to this... what we used to do back in highschool is carry around a FAKE coil wire... We would make up an extra wire but not put a terminal on it... As everybody has been saying, an 8 will run fine on 7 cylinders if the theif substitutes another wire for a missing coil wire... The thing that works with this solution is nothing looks wrong.. You can acheive the same effect by pulling your rotor but that involves popping off your cap and dealing with the other 8 wires..

seems to have worked well.. I still have my first hotrod :)

....a piece of vacuum hose about the size of a coil wire all dressed up with the coil and distributor boots on 'em works real gooooooooood...like ya said...nothin' looks wrong or outa place..