I'm using a 40 ford column in my 34 coupe and it has a fully functional ignition switch and column lock. The wiring going to the back of the switch is open to the world and anybody could jump the exposed wiring connections to get current to the coil. I know I could wire it in parallel to another hidden switch in the circuit but my question is if anybody makes a cover to hide the connections. I looked online at Mac's and Spardaros sites with no luck. Surely somebody makes a cover of some kind?
That's a really good point. However, I still would rather have the connections covered with something.
Its even easier than that,its called a jumper wire from the battery to the coil,done,but you still cant steer it. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Although I agree that if you can't steer it you can't move it theory. You could make a cover out of ABS plastic to cover the back side of the switch. It is easy to work with and will not ground out the switch if you bump into it. That being said a hidden cut off switch is probably the best solution. I installed a switch on the clutch peddle that may slow down someone for awhile while they figure that out. If they really want the car they find a way to move it but some things we can do will discourage the less talented or motivated ones. A side note: The latest thing in my town is someone is drilling holes in gas tanks to steal 30 bucks worth of gas. They say the average repair bill is around $1000.00 to replace the tanks. Selfish thoughtless TURDS!
I'll bet that if you just covered the wire all the way up to the end with something like asphalt loom, most people wouldn't even know there were wires there. But what I like to do is hide a ****on that operates a remote battery cutoff. This is the ****on I like to use to operate it. Flush mount, easy to hide, and still nice looking if you do see it. https://www.mcmaster.com/#6023t13/=178dln3
That's a good looking switch there ******. My plan was to hide one in plain sight...maybe a simple toggle or even a floor mounted dimmer switch. For some security on the back of the ign switch I like the plastic housing idea and I'd think about carrying it a little further by filling it with black silicone RTV.
youll love that RTV when you have to trace down a wire issue. If they want it bad enough they'll just come with a wrecker.
LOL one of the kids I went to high school with decided to hotwire a Datsun roadster. I guess he didn't know about the steering lock and got it going just fast enough to rumple it real good when he hit another car in the parking lot.
I have a Battery cutoff switch in my 33 , it is key locked and fused , if anyone tries to jump it burns the fuse , so you would know someone tried. the fused wire is there to maintain an electric clock or to maintain your radio stations while the battery is otherwise disconnected
Last time I installed an auxiliary switch (for a girlfriend in NYC whose car had miraculously survived several theft attempts, requiring several steering columns) I used a double throw switch. The extra throw lit up a pair of Cadillac horns mounted under the driver's seat. It would be better to use two switches with this trick...single throws. One mounted right under edge of dash, where any bright thief would find it immediately, working the horns, another mounted a bit farther up in the wiry darkness working the ignition interrupt. This did not cure the broken steering problem, but I could get those for free from a friend's junkyard.
In Queens, NY it wasn't paranoia...the car I worked on was a survivor of four known theft attempts with visible break-in damage, and was on its third steering column when I last saw it! Twice, we found it with column damage complete so it was ready to drive away for the thief, but he must have been spooked by someone coming by just before he turned the switch. That was in a pretty good neighborhood...I guess in a bad neighborhood the thieves would have been better skilled and entirely unflappable and the car would have been gone on theft number one...
Just do it the easy way, but the proper size cover piece from some black duct tape, stick it in and be done with it.
Paranoia eh? I'm the guy who drove 1750 miles with an empty car trailer to get my dad's model A pickup I inherited when he died. Arrived to find a cheezy little lock on the door to the garage it was stored in. None of my keys were even close so I hammered the lock off to find an empty garage......I'm sure it was the meth heads across the road from his place that stole it but could never prove it..it's still gone after 12 years so yeah, I'm a little spooky about car theft. Meth heads ****tered to God knows where. I'm wiring my 34 now...it'll get some theft deterrents built in but the wide open connections at the back of the switch look like an open invitation to **** with my car... jus sayin.
You could also hide a fuel cutoff as well. So if they find the electrical cutoff, they won't get far. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Drilling a hole in the gas tank to steal the gas reminds me of a good one where karma literally struck.Friend of mine came home from a quail hunt.Parked in his driveway.That night some little turd from his neighborhood tried to steal his gas by unscrewing the tank bung.Got bit square in the face by a rattle snake that crawled up under the car while he was quail hunting.Found the little thief DEAD the next morning by the rear of the car.Tough **** thief. Good luck.have fun.Be safe. Leo
I'm a big fan of those switches that go on the battery cables where the big red key comes out. they would need to have one of those red keys, and know where the switch is to drive away..
Same thing on my 39, and I'd be less than candid were I to say it didn't cross my mind. Along the thinking of the vintage wire covering I thought about some thin wall hose that would stretch over the square part of the switch and be round a couple inches down the wires. "Outta sight,outta mind" was my motivation. The the other thought was inspired by a turn signal clamp-on gig. I didn't like the wires so I fabbed up a quicky bent tube and painted it to match the column. Without looking real close it looked like an OEM application. If you're keeping the column shift that might "blend" for you as well. I hope you'll show us what you do. I will, when I get to it that is.
Rocky,reading this jarred my somewhat senile memory and I vividly remember how devastated you were, now I feel like a jerk for poking at you with what at the time seemed a harmless attempt at humor. I sincerely apologize for my lack of sensitivity and totally understand why you are taking extra precautions with security. HRP
How about using the cigarette lighter as a hidden switch? When pushed in it provides a fairly good ground through the resistive coil. It's not perfect, but it's enough to operate a hidden relay under the dash which, in the case of my New Yorker, runs the fuel pump.
Oh stop Danny! Reliving that unpleasant memory was a little unnerving but I really didn't need to get all pissy. I've since picked my ******* outta my crack and it's all good. Nobody should have to worry about "lack of sensitivity" around me. I'm all better.
Rocky, I'm thinking in a different direction on this because of all the hot rods I've seen stolen have been rolled into a waiting enclosed trailer a short distance away or ******ed by a rollback. I used to stay at the Shilo Inn on Temple Avenue right off the 57 near Diamond Bar for the LARS. Seems like a couple of roadsters would get stolen from there on that weekend every year. The place was on a hill so all it took was to slip it into neutral and coast away to an enclosed trailer so a steering lock would help, especially if it was turned to full lock. We started pulling a heavy cable or chain through the wheels to lock them up, which only works with mags or wire wheels. I also do that when I'm using a trailer because thieves love them too. I would definitely use the steering lock and consider using a line-loc or manual brake lock to lock up the brakes. Another idea would be to lock the shifter/transmission into high gear. I think that even if you armored the back of the ignition switch it could be byp***ed easily. Just my 2 cents!
Rocky, They will steal it if they want it. Multiple deterrents work the best the harder you make it to move or start the more likely they are to leave it. I know a fellow that used to leave his pet Python (Monty) coiled round the interior rear vision mirror and that was all he needed. Noted that may not work in your climate.
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