Security:

[Irish_Alley]

Well even if they could make you a key as old as theses trucks are the key probably been changed at least once

[malibu795]

like some said a security systme will only slow them down..

if they want it the will get it.

[eventhorizon66]

3) i'm going to look into cables such as this not only to tie around the steering wheel+brake pedal, but the actual truck to lampposts,  trees, parking meters, anything immovable.


scroll down to harley-davidson cable
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/accessoriesandgear/security_locks_comparison/index.html

LOL.  That'll be a sight.  You tying your truck to a lamp post.

[74k20]

I thought about chaining my truck, to my utility trailer, chained to my Chevelle, all lined up down the side of my house.  I park them almost touching so hard to access hoods and harder to see a heavy duty chain laying on ground.  That would make a heck of a lot of racket for sure.  Especially If I "forgot" myself. 

[78 Chevyrado]

I have one of these  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcfm-lKoKIs

[modular93fox]

I would never put that system or type of system on my truck, bike or skateboard.... their site has misleading information (in my opinion)..

one, you have to manually plug something in every use, remove it everytime you leave the vehicle... seems like it would be real easy to leave it in when you go to the store... and that one time... bam thief just took your car...

on their main page
"To date, even after 34 years in business and 4 million installations worldwide, not one vehicle has ever been stolen by defeating a properly installed and utilized Ravelco Antitheft Device. "
It doesnt state this, but its implied that cars have been stolen with this device installed but the owner left the plug installed at time of thieft.

under "the competition" #8
"These devices all work in conjunction with relays that continuously burn up due to the high amperage from the starter wire to which they are connected. Most of them even have a toggle switch which allows a person to override the system. Car thieves are not at all deterred by these devices. "
uhh, dont think so buddy. "burn up due to high amperage" whaa, no. The wires that are cut is the control side of the starter solenoid, typically 14 gauge and thinner.. not the fat 00 red positive wire [moron]. And even then, who wires in a backup override switch anyway... if you do it right the first time you shouldnt need a override switch. IF it should fail, you installed it and know where to start looking for a repair. Lastly, I like how they say "car thieves are not at all deterred..." so what your saying is if they cant find the "secret spot" they cant start it anyway, just like your product..

They also state on one of their pages, stealing a car via tow truck is uncommon... psshh... thats probally the best way to steal one in the first place. If the tow truck looks nice and expensive who's going to think 2x about that vehicle being stolen. They are probally thinking that pos is brooken down.. if its a regular truck with a towtruck hook in the bed... yeah thats probally not a good sign.

Granted they do offer alot of facts about alarms and their color coded wires... thats good info... simply remove the wires from the connector and mix them up. In your installation manual, cross out the old and write the new color in.. simple, effectve and will definatly cause trouble for the thief. Or just buy some terminals and run all white wire like planes use. You can only connect one wire at a time right?
Also, I would never pay someone to install an alarm on MY vehicle... Well, you know that some people have good work ethics and well some just dont care and collect that paycheck. If you do it yourself, you can take the time of day to mount the "braine" in a good hard to access spot, route the wires in a factory like way and be golden. Typically the alarm comes with the starter kill relay and is good for the starter solenoid or ignition.. a sudgestion would be to kill 2 circuits with that one output wire, such as fuel pump + starter, or hei module + stater. starters can be started with a screw driver.... but if you have a secondary circuit disabled well theres a good chance they will not be able to drive off with your car.

So if you want a good reliable security system, get a quality alarm with a paging key fob, so when it goes off, you can be aware and prepare yourself for the next step what ever it will be. My truck was hit 2x in 1 week in the apartments I was living at for the time. one was at 5pm, trucks about 50 ft and the tv was on... didnt even hear the alarm go off, but when my pager went off, out the door I went. The guy was honest and took care of the accident. The 2nd time was 3am and you guessed it I was asleep. Didnt hear the alarm go off, but I woke up to the sound of the pager. Jumped out of bed and almost grabed the .45 but didnt... the lady that hit me just parked her car in a different spot and she had been drinking and eventually she too paid for the damage done.
These pager alarms usually has some range on them... Im talking a football field range... (not even lying). You will atleast have knowledge your alarms going off weather or not they cut the siren.
Add a shock sensor if it doesnt come with one along with a tilt sensor.
Add a 2nd kill switch that requires the driver to do something before they can start the car... lots of neat things that can be done that can seem transparent to even passengers.

in the end, if the thief has the means, will, determination and time... chances are the thief will take your car.

Clint

[1980c10]

or use a ford logo.

[HIGHPLAINSDRIFTER]

Springfield XD45

[Roughshod]

Yes, the Springfield is quite a persuading anti-theft tool! I also have seen a bumper sticker that said "Secured by Smith and Wesson"

[SUX2BU99]

^ lol I've seen one that says "Alarm by Rottweiler. Secured by Smith and Wesson"

Passive immobilizers were heavily promoted by our gov't-run insurance company around here around 10-15 years ago. They still give discounts if you have some kind of alarm device. I remember the one they pushed had a fob or some kind of thing that you had to insert in order for the car to start. They touted that it had 7 different methods of protection so that if one were bypassed by the thief, he had to get around 6 more to start the car. I'm sure the problem was people leaving them in all the time, too lazy to bother.

But, something is better than nothing at all.

[Stewart G Griffin]

Next, i'd like to get into the concept of the removable steering wheel;   Good idea?

[Canadian 4X4]

removable steering wheel is a good idea, but when you go to the mall or grocery  store your not gonna want to carry your steering wheel around with you . Those are the most common places for thefts around here.I do agree that for when the truck is at home or work, where you have someplace to put it though. It is probably a good extra  security device though

[Stewart G Griffin]

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?

[Irish_Alley]

stew I'm speechless i think your going to far to perfect your truck when all you have to do is kill the hot wire to the distributor and thats it if they have a tow truck nothing will save it. like you said this would take too long to setup everytime you take your car out and if someone that wants your truck will probably see you park it and set this up then take a bolt cutter and they got your truck like said above if they want it they got it

[Stewart G Griffin]

stew I'm speechless i think your going to far to perfect your truck when all you have to do is kill the hot wire to the distributor and thats it if they have a tow truck nothing will save it. like you said this would take too long to setup everytime you take your car out and if someone that wants your truck will probably see you park it and set this up then take a bolt cutter and they got your truck like said above if they want it they got it

Well, that may be true, but then they would have to get thru the hood lock first (if they even have the right bolt cutters on hand), then i've got a few other tricks up my sleeve, so really it's a matter of slowing them down.

All for an 83 truck.