Security

[MrBlue]

Greetings,
We are almost finished with the Orange Beast!
As this is becoming my son's daily driver, senior in high school, I am concerned that knowing the ease of entry we want to add some deterrents.
We are thinking of making a locking hood deadbolt, installing a locking gas cap along with an alarm. Does anyone have other suggestions?
Thanks
MrBLue

[chevyndn]

put some hidden kill switch's on it, with removable keys

[71swb4x4]

If they want it, they will get it. Now of course don't take that to mean that you do nothing but hope no one takes it. I would do hidden kill switches. If it's really nice, I would invest in Lojack. A good alarm will help, but make sure it's one where the key fob tells you when there is a problem. No one but you will pay attention to your alarm.

As far as security from other high schoolers, simply don't leave valuable things in the truck. If there is nothing valuable in there, they won't enter it. When I was a Junior in high school there was one day where six cars were broken into. It was only the cars that everyone knew had high dollar stereo systems in them. They were begging to have their cars broken into.

[unclewatts]

If you're gonna install a fancy radio in it, put it in a locking glovebox. You are right these trucks are super easy to break in.

[texanidiot25]

Kill switch in the bed-light switch (hard wire the bed light to always come on). I love making OE switches kill switches in just about anything. Did a friend's S10 Blazer's rear hatch switch this way too. Fired a relay to run the ign on and off.

Also a manual choke, and keep it shut when parked. How many theves know how to work a choke, or think to open it when starting a car and it only putters a time or two before flooding?

[mclairmo]

I've used the Club with good luck. Also have a fused coil wire. Can pull the fuse and take with you.

[b-rad]

Originally Posted by mclairmo

I've used the Club with good luck. Also have a fused coil wire. Can pull the fuse and take with you.

dude the club sucks it tacks like 2 sec to get by a club

[mclairmo]

Originally Posted by b-rad

dude the club sucks it tacks like 2 sec to get by a club

I did not intend to imply that the Club would prevent theft, only that it has worked for me. I believe it is also a deterrent. My old 71 Mustang was stolen from my driveway on the one night I forgot to put the Club on and did not put my car cover on with cable lock. Clearly, the thieves were watching for me to screw up. Not every thief wants to waste time trying to defeat the Club when there are many other vehicles that are easier pickins.

[Hottrucks]

ok heres some tools all you have to do is defeet them to keep your trucks safe

bolt cutter
hack saw
3 feet wire (aligator clip on one end spade on the other)....
pocket knife
flat screwdiver
paper clip......trying to save your truck..
personal fav is an old screw in dent puller

none of these tools require breaking anything that couldn't be fixed in a couple min

keep in mind none of us I hope is a pro thief but if you can get into your truck and drive it of so can they..best we can hope for is to deter them so they move to the next poor person ..... as far a tracking it if it get stolen I never want to see it again!!

I'm sorry if this offends some but I dabble in repos so I know easy picken's the worse thing is when they crank and won't start... its hard to driveaway with the alarm sounding if it won't start!! so I would say fuel shut off is a good place to start locking it down because we all know what makes and HEI work and how close the battery is

[Indyuke]

Kill switches for the ignition system dont work. I've forgotten my keys before... and so I've had to "steal" my own truck a couple of times, and I've bet my friends who have kill switches and all kinds of alarms that I could be sitting behind the wheel of their truck with it running in less than 20 seconds.

I try not to make it a habit to loose my keys though, because running a hot wire from the battery to the coil is 12+ volts. It requires 6 volts, but it will do just fine for a thief.

The hard part is to prevent the thief from putting a hot wire to the coil unless you have a hood lock. So the next best thing is to prevent the thief from actually spinning the engine somehow. It won't start if he can't spin it.

[C-10 simplex]

Originally Posted by Indyuke

Kill switches for the ignition system dont work. I've forgotten my keys before... and so I've had to "steal" my own truck a couple of times, and I've bet my friends who have kill switches and all kinds of alarms that I could be sitting behind the wheel of their truck with it running in less than 20 seconds.

I try not to make it a habit to loose my keys though, because running a hot wire from the battery to the coil is 12+ volts. It requires 6 volts, but it will do just fine for a thief.

The hard part is to prevent the thief from putting a hot wire to the coil unless you have a hood lock. So the next best thing is to prevent the thief from actually spinning the engine somehow. It won't start if he can't spin it.

Would putting a chain around one of the holes in the flexplate work?

[texanidiot25]

Also have ways to kill power to the whole cab... Thus, no lighting works.

Fuel shut off is an option.

[DANTIP]

I like the combination of locking the hood along with a disconnect at the battery. You could tow the truck but driving it away quickly is not an option.

Good Luck!

[highperf4x4]

Originally Posted by texanidiot25

Kill switch in the bed-light switch (hard wire the bed light to always come on). I love making OE switches kill switches in just about anything. Did a friend's S10 Blazer's rear hatch switch this way too. Fired a relay to run the ign on and off.

Also a manual choke, and keep it shut when parked. How many theves know how to work a choke, or think to open it when starting a car and it only putters a time or two before flooding?

You sound like my brother in laws friend that uses a cigarette lighter for a kill switch. You take the lighter with you when you get out. I have no idea how it works though.

Originally Posted by Indyuke

Kill switches for the ignition system dont work. I've forgotten my keys before... and so I've had to "steal" my own truck a couple of times, and I've bet my friends who have kill switches and all kinds of alarms that I could be sitting behind the wheel of their truck with it running in less than 20 seconds.

I think you just posted a "how to" for my neighbors to come and steal my truck. Could you drop the details? I didn't even know it myself.

Originally Posted by texanidiot25

Also have ways to kill power to the whole cab... Thus, no lighting works.

Fuel shut off is an option.

Fuel shut off is the best imo.




Bottom line is, if they get it, you want to get it back ASAP so have a "lojack" installed so the police can find it for you.


www.lojack.com

[rwolf9653]

All of these are good suggestions, but sadly the trend in my area is broad daylight a tow truck hooks up and tows your ride away. Can be done in front of everybody and nobody questions it.
That being said I would suggest a tracking system in conjunction with kill switch, and use good judgement on where the truck is parked or driven through.

[darush01]

Originally Posted by rwolf9653

All of these are good suggestions, but sadly the trend in my area is broad daylight a tow truck hooks up and tows your ride away. Can be done in front of everybody and nobody questions it.
That being said I would suggest a tracking system in conjunction with kill switch, and use good judgement on where the truck is parked or driven through.

best way to prevent tht to my knowledge is pull in turn the wheels to the right if your sterring wheel locks, put it in park or 1st/ reverse and hope that may not stop them but it will make it a pain in the rear to haul putting the nose into oncoming traffic so hopefully they wont try it

[C-10 simplex]

1) Here's what i've come up with so far:



i've installed a lock in the steering shaft along with cable routed thru the lower control arm. i don't know what this part in the steering shaft assembly is called?

This is an 83 and apparently there are no u-joints in this shaft---it's pretty much a straight shot. And i wish there were u-joints to make this easy.

Several problems to the point where i can't use it---yet.

a) very difficult to install----the cable/chain could go around the frame rail, but i found it easier to wrap the cable around the lower control arm.

b) being that i used a cable, this does allow for a little movement in the steering wheel----but only a little.

i think using an appropriate length chain could help solve both a and b.

Due to difficulty in installing the system along with the fact that this part only allows locks to a certain, very small, sized to be utilized, i feel it would be better if a custom clamp of some sort could be fashioned up and maybe permanently installed on the shaft; Then, when parked a larger, more reasonably sized lock and chain could be put on this clamp---most likely wrapping the chain around the framerail. Are there any commercially available items like this?

2) If this had worked out better, then i would have felt that this, in conjunction with using some sort of hood lock and using a club and disconnecting the negative cable from the battery would be good enough for now.

a) the problem is that i couldn't quite set up a good way to lock the hood---can you give specific examples?

[highperf4x4]

Originally Posted by texanidiot25

Also have ways to kill power to the whole cab... Thus, no lighting works.

I'm way ahead of you. I worked that out long ago. It's called factory wiring.


I recommend a different approach.............


I'm just sayin.

[big_al_71]

"Hagerty Collectors Insurance" and insure it for the highest amount that they will allow.

I have a kill switch that it is so bad ass that I dont care who you are you wont be able to turn the motor on.

[Indyuke]

Ok, I edited it.

But why would you NOT want to know the details... if you understand the problem, you can design a system that would beat the thief. I also know some guys whose cars and trucks just can't be stolen short of towing it like rwolf has said. It just can't be done, and I know it's because they've thought through every trick a thief could use and came up with a system that would beat them all.

I think it would be cool if someone came up with a way to make it so the truck only starts when you or anyone you designate is within 3ft of it. Like a micro transmitter in someone's watch or the sole of their shoe. Course then you'd have to take that shoe with you wherever you go.

[highperf4x4]

Originally Posted by Indyuke

Ok, I edited it.

But why would you NOT want to know the details... if you understand the problem, you can design a system that would beat the thief. I also know some guys whose cars and trucks just can't be stolen short of towing it like rwolf has said. It just can't be done, and I know it's because they've thought through every trick a thief could use and came up with a system that would beat them all.

I think it would be cool if someone came up with a way to make it so the truck only starts when you or anyone you designate is within 3ft of it. Like a micro transmitter in someone's watch or the sole of their shoe. Course then you'd have to take that shoe with you wherever you go.

It's kind of a catch 22 huh?

[SWEET7T]

Not only the thieves, but how about some dillhole keying the truck...

I drove a '73 Challenger to school a few times. I chose my parking spots wisely so hopefully nobody would get next to it and ding it (on the street versus the parking lot a few times), or I would have my buddies park next to it so some girl didn't whack it with her door.

The easiest way to get in the cab is to pocket knife the vent window latch open... Secure this location!

[toddtheodd]

Pipe bomb strapped to gas tank that is wired to a prepaid cell phone that is set up to only be able to receive calls from one phone number, like your personal cell phone number.
Than insure the crap out of it.
They may take it... but they won't get to enjoy it... long...

[texanidiot25]

Originally Posted by toddtheodd

Pipe bomb strapped to gas tank that is wired to a prepaid cell phone that is set up to only be able to receive calls from one phone number, like your personal cell phone number.
Than insure the crap out of it.
They may take it... but they won't get to enjoy it... long...

**** my trucks gone! -boom- ahh, found it!

[Hottrucks]

if you park with the nose in and wheel turned to the stop, it makes towing a PIA since when they grab and go it runs into the car next to it..yea I know no locking colunm but its a start the other thing is maybe a lock on the E brake set lock it at least this will slow them down....

as far as vent window yea you could weld it shut I'm still thrownng a rock threw the window or if I need to be quiet then a spring center punch and the glass falls on the floor....in and gone

I think french has the best Idea no wheel makes them hard to drive and an alarm that by passes the ingnition would be the best thing to slow a thief down or make them move on maybe a newer locking colunm would help.... you would need 2 keys to move it and I'm sure you could wire it so both needed to in the on pos.

what we need to do is make a list of the vonerable spots.....you make the list and I'll tell yea if I could get by it