Jriver

Haven't gotten my 65 yet but was wondering.... I remember the old days of using a Kill Switch hidden in the interior so the car couldn't be started. I think it was set up to cut power to the coil. Is this the best place to cut power?

yzguyfl

I think so. I like that better than a starter kill switch (which you find common on alarms). Starter kill is obvious (they may try to defeat it), ignition kill is not. Chances are, they won't know why it does not start, and they kill the battery trying to start it. Better to have a dead battery, than a missing car.

Gary's '66

You can also install a **** type battery quick disconnect. It will save your battery when the car is sitting for a long period, say in winter but, it can be used as a theft deterrent as well by unscrewing and removing the **** there by killing any power supply to the system.

You'll get pros and cons as some guys have had issues with them (green ****, foreign produced) but there are some that are USA made (black ****) that, IMO are of better quality which is what I been using.

If you do decide on one install it on the negative post.

Gary

Frankie the Fink

Yes - if you want a "kill" switch those green **** cutoffs will do the job....after a few years they'll get corroded and kill any chance you have of starting your car. I've had the expensive, American-made ones and they gradually went bad - I use only knife switches.

Any thief worth his salt will have a simple jumper wire and jump from the battery to your ignition coil and bypass your dash switch and most any cutoff you may install.
Just get good insurance and take reasonable precautions when leaving the car somewhere and enjoy life.

Nowhere Man

If your only stoping a joy rider then that might delay them by a few minutes any person who is out to steel your car that won't even faze them at all. A trailer with a winch or a wire with clips and a screw driver and your off

Frankie the Fink

Shhhh

I never add the screwdriver part just so nobody gets any ideas...
Many don't have a clue how easy it is to make off with one of these cars

Nowhere Man

Frank don't forget how easy it is to get to the ingntion switch harnes plug

treh1

For a key-fob controlled battery-kill switch, you might want to look into a product called the Battery Brain T3. I installed one on my '58 about a year ago and I have never had an issue with it. It's a very convenient way to kill the battery without having to pop the hood each time.

GTOguy

These cars are super easy to steal. Be insured. That said, I have a hidden kill switch to the coil of my '67 GTO convertible, which I leave unlocked and sometimes with the top down. I have a chain and padlock hood lock, so it would take a little effort to cut the lock off and hotwire the car. That, and it has a Truck-sized 'club' on the steering wheel. Use The Club on the 'Vette, too, just to keep people without bolt cutters honest. A lot of cars are stolen on a lark, and a kill switch will prevent that from happening. Plus, if your car is a stickshift, that seems to be a deterrent for the younger, clueless generation of thieves who can't drive a standard.

Jam421

JRiver.... I also did this many times before but decades ago as you describe. Any typical 12V toggle or button switch properly rated that interrupts the negative side of the coil can be hidden in the cockpit and work reliably for years to deter the amateur car thief. A cranking car makes noise. Unless they are pros if you cost them any unexpected time it increases chances they leave. Cost for wire + switch at any auto parts store is minimal. You can also install a dummy switch ( with wires tied beneath dash) in more obvious location as a decoy. Again.....time cranking a motor that won't start is the deterrent. Cheap insurance bud !

Jriver

That's what I'm after, I will drive the car daily, but when I stop at the beach road I don't want to put the top up for what might be a ten minute walk on the sand. As for locking the hood doesn't seem to work with a corvette.

Jriver

Thanks but I don't to kill the battery just trying to make it a little more difficult for a JOY ride.

GTOguy

Jriver, I never lock my ragtop GTO even with the top up because I'd rather have my road maps stolen than my top slit. A simple, rated switch in series with the ignition + side hidden somewhere will give you piece of mind. I have installed them in glove compartments (hidden), and have then locked the glove compartment. So somebody would have to be really on the ball to get your car for a quick joy ride. A worthy $10 addition to any classic car, IMO!

mrg

Wiring in a toggle switch to ground the - side of the coil works good. An attempt to hot wire the + side of the coil, ignition still no go. .. Hide the toggle switch hidden up behind the cluster and access by 'feel'. .
John

quahog

If you choose a switch to kill power to the coil you may also want to use (if you have a chrome distributor shield) allen head or torques machine screws to attach the shielding as most joy riders may have a screw driver but wont have a set of allen wrenches or torques to get at the coil. This tip came from a post I read in early 2000 when I first got my 66. Hope this helps. Jeff

Jriver

Thanks, that's a great idea, at least another layer of protection.

KENS78SILVERANNIV

Kill switch is really useless. Thieves who are after classics generally watch them for awhile. A professional will have it on a sled in less than 60 sec... and in a container in less than an hour. Seen it done. Quick, Quiet and Painless.

Jriver

The professional could steal it out of my garage if he wanted. I'm trying to keep someone seeing it parked with the top down while I have dinner from jumping in pulling the connection from the cyl. jumping that and driving away.

yzguyfl

Yes I think we ALL agree a pro will get it no matter what, but I don't think that is what we are talking about here. Anything you can do to misdirect or slow them down, is only a good thing and MAY help those that are less than pros (which probably make up the majority of car thieves )

Otherwise, if everyone is so set on it being so easy, just leave your doors open, keys in, and leave it running on the side of the road.... no? why? because we want to do what we can to deter them and/or slow them down.

ry57pont

I bought 2 of these, one for the car and one for my boat. Haven't installed them yet. But I like the concept. Probably will interrupt the coil. Hopefully it will make the theft just long enough so I can jump on the hood as they are driving away.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Logisys-RM02...YAAOxy0P1SDmX-