Thread: Alarm for 32 roadster

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Any of you guys have an alarm on your roadster? if so what brand did you pick, how did you get the shop to set-it up and what does it do?

I need to put one on my roadster and would want one with proximity sensor (the type that will tell people to back away if they get close). two trips to Fry's Electronics were completely unproductive. hot rods are not up their alley.

Do I want to take the rod to a regular car alarm shop (and hope they understand how the wiring is done on my hiboy) or take it to a hotrod shop (and hope they know how to set up alarm systems)

Mmmmm... I'm all ears.

Not an expert on alarms, but do know two things. First of all, be very careful who does your install. We have had several cases here locally where the shop kept copies of the customers keys, then went back later and stole the car, or the alarm system and stereo out of it. Know who you are dealing with.

Secondly, alarms alone don't phase pro thieves. They are so good and bold that they will work right through the noise and disable it in a few seconds. What seems to be effective is a disabling devise like a hidden switch to kill the ignition. Anything you can do to slow them down and make it harder for them to get the car going.

Long story short. My one Son had a custom cal look VW bug. It was completely tricked and high dollar, with about a $ 5000.00 stereo system ( this is in 1990 dollars) He had the best alarm system available, and he did that for a living, so it was bulletproof.

He is a musician, and got home one night after playing about 2 am, parked the car. At 5:30 AM my ex-wife is leaving for work and she sees his car door open. We rush out, in the 3 and 1/2 hours thieves got into the car (somehow disabled the alarm) and took their sweet old time dismantling the entire interior of the car, including the stereo, amps, speakers, and even the alarm itself. They even had the Recarro bucket seats unbolted and ready to take out, but she must have scared them off. They got everything else, and didn't simply rip the stuff out, they methodically unscrewed each component. They were in no hurry and were working in our driveway.

Oh, and the car had NO DOOR HANDLES, they were shaved, and the doors were operated by remote control, so they removed a window to get in. Point is, no matter what alarm you have, really good pros will get the car if they want it. Best defense it to keep it under lock and key and watch where you leave it.

Don

I had a talking alarm in my car.Once people found out it would talk,they would mess with it to get it to do so. I parked it close to my buddys room one night and kept him up most of the night when people would walk by or a noisy car would go by----go with the hidden swich!

Hi Boy Gal...I'm fairly new to the street rod scene too. And I like you, wanted a security alarm. However, just like Itoldyouso mentioned, pro thieves are good!

I actually have a battery disconnect in my trunk and another secret switch under the dash. (Not secret anymore) All power will work except the ignition. And by the way, that's why we have insurance.

Pat

Actually I am not so worried about someone stealing the whole car, but rather someone stealing the stereo in it or worse yet, my hard to find headlights. A local rodder told me; "be careful your headlights, people might try to steal them" hence the proximity alarm in case someone is thinking about it. I know a pro can get whatever he wants but a non-pro who simply is eyeballing my headlights might feel a bit less enthousiastic once he realizes the whole neighborhood will hear him try to steal them... Just a thought... I would want that feature to be optional (turn it on if you want or off if you prefer)....

I have noted all yoru suggestions but await more, especially from people who actually currently have an alarm and can tell me what type, brand to get and where to have it installed (alarm shop or hotrod shop?)

.....I don't know if this helps or not but my '32 should be ready within a month or two so I've been checking into car alarms. I'm interest in a Lojack. When I sold cars I partisapated {sp?} in a demo & was VERY impressed. I was in the car with that was looking for the 'stolen car' & we found it VERY quickly! Also I'm interested in something called No Hot Wire {1-866-nohotwire} They also have a web site & I've seen them in magazines a couple of times. It's a plug with several prongs in it & you plug the male recepticle into the female one to get your car started. Now neither of these things are going to keep someone from stealing your headlights though. Is there a way that you can install them so that to get them off would ruin them??? Weld the bolts on??? Oh can we see a picture of your headlights. I'm curious as to how they look! You don't need to give us your address though! Bill

I think those are Guide 682 C lights, and all the ones with turn signals on top are starting to get desirable. I would adjust them perfectly, and then put a very small tack weld on the nut and threads or nut and mount (if it is steel) That way you could always grind away the spot weld if you ever need to remove them, but a thief wouldn't have the luxury of that much time.

I drove my '27 daily for years, and the only things that were constantly stolen were the dice off of my tire valve stems, and one time my fire extinquisher. Usually it was kids on bikes who stole the dice. Little Urchins.

Don

I have Clifford. Always had good luck. They came out and installed it while it was in the body shop. If you are building your car, install it during the build to hide the wires.

http://www.clifford.com

I watched a tow truck clear a parking lot. The guy was good, he lowered the forks while he was backing up, picked up the car by the tires and was gone in 10 seconds, probably tied it down after he got around the corner.

heres a system here that I am thinking about, It is a car alarm that texts directly to your cell phone. So you can spring whoever is trying to steal your car. Even if they steal your car you can follow where your car is being taken to by GPS. The system is infinitely programable for different options so this could be one of the ultimate systems. 1 option is remote disable from your cell phone. Another is loudness of the alarm or mute or to speak directly through the alarm via your cellphone.
The GPS transciever is quite small, the size of a babys fingernail, so it could be hidden anywhere on your car. Still it's a question of how much you are willing to spend.

Originally Posted by southerner

heres a system here that I am thinking about, It is a car alarm that texts directly to your cell phone. So you can spring whoever is trying to steal your car. Even if they steal your car you can follow where your car is being taken to by GPS. The system is infinitely programable for different options so this could be one of the ultimate systems. 1 option is remote disable from your cell phone. Another is loudness of the alarm or mute or to speak directly through the alarm via your cellphone.
The GPS transciever is quite small, the size of a babys fingernail, so it could be hidden anywhere on your car. Still it's a question of how much you are willing to spend.

Oh yeah I JUST saw a demo at FRy's electronics last thirsday about this, it sounds real interesting... What was the price tag? The demo did not mention and I was in a hurry to get out of there (to make sure my deuce - which was prked outside of the store - was not stolen while I was in there looking for an anti theft devide - HA HA HA!)

Originally Posted by 42K3

I have Clifford. Always had good luck. They came out and installed it while it was in the body shop. If you are building your car, install it during the build to hide the wires.

http://www.clifford.com

I watched a tow truck clear a parking lot. The guy was good, he lowered the forks while he was backing up, picked up the car by the tires and was gone in 10 seconds, probably tied it down after he got around the corner.

Clifford was my initial aim, but adding to it the proximity alarm which frys did not carry... Which clifford model do you have (since we do not have locks or even windows - is there a need to get the higher end model ? (except maybe if it is the kind thatpages you if something goes wrong...)

Note: Money is not too much of an issue. I'll pay what I have to pay to get what I really need.

Originally Posted by billlsbird

Oh can we see a picture of your headlights. I'm curious as to how they look! You don't need to give us your address though! Bill

Yes here is the little website for my hot rod:

www.bettatalk.com/meet_my_hotrod.htm

You can see photos there.

Originally Posted by HiboyGal

Oh yeah I JUST saw a demo at FRy's electronics last thirsday about this, it sounds real interesting... What was the price tag? The demo did not mention and I was in a hurry to get out of there (to make sure my deuce - which was prked outside of the store - was not stolen while I was in there looking for an anti theft devide - HA HA HA!)

They are pricey. But worth it for the peace of mind. The school next door to us has one on it's third lawnmowing tractor after the first 2 got stolen within 5 weeks of each other, from a locked gate and a locked shed !!!!!

Sort of reminds me of another storey about someone who got his house burgled, so he got a couple of guard dogs...... Thieves came back and pinched his dogs

Not sure of the model number, but its loud.

Originally Posted by billlsbird

Oh can we see a picture of your headlights. I'm curious as to how they look! Bill

You might have to buy her dinner first.