Does anybody have a suggestion what to do with the Alarm of a 72? Modernize, rebuild other suggestions?

 

Is the one you have not functioning? If it works, leave it. If it doesn't work, you can either repair it to original specs or disconnect it. I think modernizing it would be a very difficult task considering how it spider webs throughout the car's wiring harness.

 

Replace that goofy sounding horn with a loud one from your local parts store. It's hidden so no one is going to see it any way but at least it will make some noise if someone tries to mess with your ride.

I would just repair the rest of it since like D_boy said, it snakes throughout the interior and into the engine bay. If you really want to have a full service alarm, install an aftermarket system and leave the factory one turned off and intact.

cc

 

Currently there is no system. Think a previous owner removed it.

 

In that case here's what you are faced with:

one under hood alarm plunger switch on top of the heater box where the wires run into the wiper plenum and out through a grommet, across the firewall to another grommet into the interior.

one plunger in each door jamb at the rear with wires that run along the back wall behind the seats and join on the driver's side where they then go into the rear storage area and exit the interior through a grommet on the driver's side rear bulkhead.

Out there the system is grounded to the frame while the hot wire runs to the horn and from the horn over to the key switch on the rear of the car.

Back in the passenger compartment in the storage bin behind the passenger seat under the storage tray on the front bulkhead there are a relay and a flasher for the system.

You will want to consult an AIM for specific details but that is the system in a nutshell.

I learned this the hard way by repairing my 72's alarm system. Bubba was not very good with electrical problems so he disconnected and/or destroyed each of the plungers, snipped the wires in the wiper plenum, and in both door jambs and completely bypassed the key switch by grounding the system to the frame.

If you decide to install it, you will need to take a pretty fair amount of your interior apart in order to run the wires and make the connections to the pluungers. I would recommend against purchasing new plungers from Zip as theirs would not screw into the taps on my car. I bought some from Rik's and they fit fine.


Good luck and let us know what you decide.

cc

 

I did not restore my alarm on my '73. A new modern alarm is a much more secure and sophisticated system. New alarms work on a change in voltage. They also can have an engine kill if the alarm is breached. Mine also controls the power door locks I added. I would much rather have more secure system then one that might work.

 

Currently the interior is out, main dash cable is out, so if I plan to do anything it is now. New or Old? Old seems a lot of work!! So new? what system any experience or advise?