Fitting an alarm/immobiliser to a classic car?

[matt12023]

Hi

I recently let heart rule head and bought a 1975 F100. I love the thing already, but I don't want it stolen and as lovely as the engine looks I'm bored of taking the rotor arm out of it

I would therefore like to fit an alarm/immobiliser to it. Being a pick-up, do I just need one zone for the cab and a bonnet sensor?. What are people's opinions on Cobra alarms?

[Fleckers]

Do you have a bed cover that is solid ??

I like Clifford alarms myself

But get the cab covered with sensors and door open switched

Also get bonnet ( hood ) switches installed

Truck sounds good so post up some pictures

[johnnyBv8]

I have a Clifford G5 fitted to my 205 GTI. It's a total pain in the hole - has a mind of its own. I took it to an autoelectricians and they were very scathing of Clifford alarms.

A good bet would be something like a Toad Powerkey immobiliser. Very subtle and unobtrusive, and you just have a small transponder tab on your keyring. Go for this rather than the slightyl cheaper type that require you to manually deactivate the immobiliser. If installed properly, these should be pretty effective (Thatcham cat II), and then perhaps just add a flashing LED?

[HaloGen8]

A good immobiliser is a must I'd say. Alarms are ok but who honestly does anything if they hear a car alarm going off even if there's someone near it?

I agree about a simple flashing LED. Mr Thief has to then decide if it's a spoof or a full state of the art system.

Simple DIY things like hidden switches to isolate fuel pumps or battery are easy and should pee off a smash n grab type.

The only thing you can't really prevent is some clown with a flatbed and dragging it away. That of course require trackers etc. if you want to go down that route?

[Negative Creep]

Discloc. Very easy to fit, won't go wrong and annoy the neighbours and obvious to any potential tea leaf.

[littleredrooster]

Having learnt this the hard way many years ago, I would never again allow the OE wiring to be interfered with in any way to fit an aftermarket alarm of any type.

I used to have an Elan +2 with a 'professionally fitted' alarm immobiliser thing from a reputable manufacturer. It malfunctioned. In fact it malfunctioned frequently because of poor design, poor fitting and sheer hatred for me.

It generated a high-rev misfire, which I spent dozens of hours trying to fault-find thinking it was something else on the car.

It expired totally because of a (yet another) corroded spliced joint into the loom and took me 30+ hours to finally remove and repair the damage done.

Get something mechanical and obvious, or a large dog.

[steveo3002]

id look into stuff like a disclock that goes on the steering wheel or you can get some that padlock on the pedals

older cars only have a basic handfull of exposed wires to make it run , anyone clued up on thieving could bypass an electronic imobilser pretty easily

[Monty Python]

Get a Viper 5901.

[matt12023]

Said truck, an alarm would be handy as I'd hear it clearly from my flat and be down there faster than a tramp on chips.

I do plan to fit a hidden ignition cut switch. But I'll investigate the immobiliser further, the intention is to fit it myself

[Russellely]

Nothing wrong with clifford if installed properly- had them on 3 of my cars all installed by the same person.

[HaloGen8]

That's a nice bit of kit.

Bet it sounds awesome too.

There will be some a r s e h o l e though that will unfortunately try their luck.

Removable steering wheel has to be the ultimate deterant. It's going nowhere without one and maybe some line lock device that can lock up all four wheels to prevent it being dragged onto a flat bed.

Great truck!

[Escy]

I don't think there is any point of an alarm on something like that. It would be too easy to bypass. I'd go for something physical, Disclok or something like that.

I have an aftermarket steering wheel on my AE86, will probably get a snap off boss so I can take the steering wheel out of the car.

[johnnyBv8]

Russellely said:

Nothing wrong with clifford if installed properly- had them on 3 of my cars all installed by the same person.

Even if my G5 had been well installed it would be horrible - tacky remote, horrible blue flashing light, nasty tone.

[matt12023]

HaloGen8 said:

Bet it sounds awesome too.

cheers, Its loud, slash cut side exit pipes with cherry bomb 'silencers'

I thought I was going to have to buy a bit of a basket case, but then this popped up. It was restored by the guys I bought it off

After looking at the under dash wiring I think an alarm will be a troublesome nightmare. So current plan is steering lock that encompasses the whole wheel and an ignition cut switch

It's going to get driven though, it's my daily, other than the oh so practical motorcycle