anti-theft security
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 615
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From: San Francisco CA
anti-theft security
I just bought my first Corvette (66 convertible), and now I'm trying to decide how to keep it from being stolen. I've looked through the archives here, and have read lots of articles online, but there seems to be no consensus. Everything is a compromise.
Still, I'd like to make it at least harder for someone to take my car, so I wondered what some of you are using, especially you convertible owners, and if there is some new breakthrough I haven't read about. Of course, I'm also interested in making as few changes (such as drilled holes) as possible to my car, while still providing a deterrent to theft.
I want to be able to drive my car without going crazy worrying about it when it's parked.
Still, I'd like to make it at least harder for someone to take my car, so I wondered what some of you are using, especially you convertible owners, and if there is some new breakthrough I haven't read about. Of course, I'm also interested in making as few changes (such as drilled holes) as possible to my car, while still providing a deterrent to theft.
I want to be able to drive my car without going crazy worrying about it when it's parked.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,992
Likes: 3,975
From: Cold Harbor, VA
one simple suggestion: start with a battery cut off fitting on your negative terminal. It is hidden back under the fender, and if you get the screw **** type you can take it with you to disable juice when you leave car alone. Otherwise just unscrew 4 turns whenever you park car and you prevent electrical fire which is greater concern than theft. Everytime you unscrew it all power is gone, including to clock so that will always be wrong except twice per day, but that is normal anyway. If you still have your clock points mechanism this will prevent them from frying.
ps welcome to the CF. You'll enjoy yourself here....
ps welcome to the CF. You'll enjoy yourself here....
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 615
Likes: 20
From: San Francisco CA
Also, while a battery cutoff switch sounds like a pretty good way to stop a simple hot-wiring of the car, any decent thief will be easily able to bypass such a device, going straight from the battery to the ignition. And since the hood release is so easily accessible on a convertible...
Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 101
From: Riverhead New York
I have to admit that the Thieves are coming around for our cars. I keep mine up on a lift with another under it, locked up. Then I park my Avalanche in front of the door with the Viper Alarm activated. I also keep a loaded shotgun in a secure accessible location. (Just in case!) Al W.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: The Golden Triangle, Florida
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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one simple suggestion: start with a battery cut off fitting on your negative terminal. It is hidden back under the fender, and if you get the screw **** type you can take it with you to disable juice when you leave car alone. Otherwise just unscrew 4 turns whenever you park car and you prevent electrical fire which is greater concern than theft. Everytime you unscrew it all power is gone, including to clock so that will always be wrong except twice per day, but that is normal anyway. If you still have your clock points mechanism this will prevent them from frying.
ps welcome to the CF. You'll enjoy yourself here....
ps welcome to the CF. You'll enjoy yourself here....
Welcome to the forum Vertigogo. I have a convertible and have been tossing around the idea of buying one of the versions of this alarm. You don't have to drill any holes or make other modifications:
http://www.gastanks.com/ALARMS_SECURITY/products/1934/
But the #1 best thing you can do is get an "agreed value" insurance policy. Everything else is secondary.
-- Steve
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 615
Likes: 20
From: San Francisco CA
I have to admit that the Thieves are coming around for our cars. I keep mine up on a lift with another under it, locked up. Then I park my Avalanche in front of the door with the Viper Alarm activated. I also keep a loaded shotgun in a secure accessible location. (Just in case!) Al W.
Yes, I agree that's #1. But of course I'd still lose any sweat equity I've put into the car, plus the intangible affection for it. Do you have no security on your car? (real question)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 32
From: Columbia, SC
Let's see...a carb (harder to start), a manual transmission (half this country can't start/drive a stick), and no power steering or brakes. Even if they get my Corvette running, they'll abandon it around the corner as being too much of a pain in the ***. 
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 355
Likes: 1
From: Folsom CA
I feel exactly the same way about parking lots, so I bought an upgraded version of the club. It is going to be pretty hard to get around it without someone noticing something looks amis and certainly helps slow someone down from a quick hotwire and go. Hey for $29. bucks it buys a little piece of mind.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 418
Likes: 10
From: Southern Georgia
I feel exactly the same way about parking lots, so I bought an upgraded version of the club. It is going to be pretty hard to get around it without someone noticing something looks amis and certainly helps slow someone down from a quick hotwire and go. Hey for $29. bucks it buys a little piece of mind.
/Tracy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,992
Likes: 3,975
From: Cold Harbor, VA
battery cut off switch
Can you see it with the green **** behind the burb tank? Many guys like the knife switch version better, but that one has no **** to take with you. A unit like this is (semi) required on all NCRS cars as a safety factor. You can also get it with black ****. All the vendors sell them.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Frankenstein never scared me. Marsupials do, because they're fassst…and they DART, THAT'S crazy!
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
one simple suggestion: start with a battery cut off fitting on your negative terminal. It is hidden back under the fender, and if you get the screw **** type you can take it with you to disable juice when you leave car alone. Otherwise just unscrew 4 turns whenever you park car and you prevent electrical fire which is greater concern than theft. Everytime you unscrew it all power is gone, including to clock so that will always be wrong except twice per day, but that is normal anyway. If you still have your clock points mechanism this will prevent them from frying.
ps welcome to the CF. You'll enjoy yourself here....
ps welcome to the CF. You'll enjoy yourself here....
I unscrew mine every time I park the car and take it with me. Like 65hihp said it serves two purposes. You can't start the car without it and with no power no risk of electrical fire with these old wiring harnesses. I have an agreed value policy with Hagerty. It does give a lot of peace of mind.I also went with an aftermarket alarm system. It's German so you know it's good.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 615
Likes: 20
From: San Francisco CA
Can you see it with the green **** behind the burb tank? Many guys like the knife switch version better, but that one has no **** to take with you. A unit like this is (semi) required on all NCRS cars as a safety factor. You can also get it with black ****. All the vendors sell them.
I, too, would like to see a photo of the improved club mentioned above.
Thanks to all who've answered so far, but I'd still like to hear from other owners about what they use.
PS: I think is the club mentioned above.
Last edited by vertigogo; Aug 26, 2013 at 05:04 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 615
Likes: 20
From: San Francisco CA
Thanks for the photo, but that looks like the original Club, more or less. I have used The Club, but I've also seen many cars whose steering wheels were sawed through (very easily, I might add) to remove the device. Again, these things are probably good at stopping an opportunistic thief or a joyriding teenager, but won't deter a pro who wants to part out my car.
How many readers of this thread are using something that involves GPS (be it a dedicated anti-theft device or just a phone).
How many readers of this thread are using something that involves GPS (be it a dedicated anti-theft device or just a phone).
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