Pondering some theft deterrents…

[Asshat]

I know there’s a chance a car or truck will get stolen, however, I was thinking about a few.
One came to mind, having a detachable shifter. I have a five speed trans, so if the shifter is not in the truck, a thief could not drive it away. Of course it could always be towed, but that’s a different story.

Kinda on the same lines as removing the steering wheel, and a shifter would be a little easier to carry.

You guys know if anyone has done this type of removable shifter?

[Steeveedee]

Just so I understand, you have a floor shifted trans. Do you mean that you would remove the entire shift lever, not just the knob? Would you use the lever for a cane, or something?

[AcampoDave]

Yep, I used to remove the shifter on my old compound 4 speed as a theft deterrent. Especially when camping. You need strong fingers for compressing and twisting that cap though wow...even if you left it in the back of the truck, the average theif wouldnt have a clue how to put it back in or what gear it was in when you pulled it. Edit: I used to top of my gear oil thru that shifter hole too. It was easy

[Asshat]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Just so I understand, you have a floor shifted trans. Do you mean that you would remove the entire shift lever, not just the knob? Would you use the lever for a cane, or something?

Of course there’s no sense in removing the shift knob.

Yes, removing the entire shift lever. It’s not a stock 60-66 trans, it’s out of an S10.

Thinking about welding some sort of connector that would mate the shift lever and be fairly easy to remove.

[61hawk]

If you have an iPhone or other Apple devices you could always hide an Apple Airtag on the truck. Not a theft deterent but a fairly cheap tracking device. It's about the size of two stacked quarters and works on the Apple network, anyone with an iPhone or other wireless Apple device gets within 800 feet of the tag it updates the location. No monthly fees and the battery lasts about a year. There are similar devices for Android cell phones.

There are YouTube videos of guys having someone take their vehicle and hide it somewhere in the city, the iPhone app will give you navigation directions to it's location. I use one on a horse trailer, but plan on putting one on my truck. If someone wants to take your truck they're going to take it but this gives you a chance to figure out where it is.

[61hawk]

On the YouTube channel for Vice Grip Garage, his anti-theft device is just to pop the hood and swap the coil wire with a spark plug wire at the distributor cap. Unless you're looking for something it's hard to find because the distributor cap has all 9 wires on it.

[60short]

I haven't seen this on an older truck, but my favorite idea is a magnetic (reed) switch that was hidden under the dash hooked up to the ignition circuit.

magnet had to be swiped to enable the ignition circuit before the truck could start...

I suppose you could do the same thing with a toggle switch, or the dimmer switch, or one the pull knobs?

[Asshat]

Originally Posted by 61hawk

On the YouTube channel for Vice Grip Garage, his anti-theft device is just to pop the hood and swap the coil wire with a spark plug wire at the distributor cap. Unless you're looking for something it's hard to find because the distributor cap has all 9 wires on it.

Not a bad idea, however, I don’t want to open the hood every time I park it.

[Asshat]

Originally Posted by 60short

I haven't seen this on an older truck, but my favorite idea is a magnetic (reed) switch that was hidden under the dash hooked up to the ignition circuit.

magnet had to be swiped to enable the ignition circuit before the truck could start...

I suppose you could do the same thing with a toggle switch, or the dimmer switch, or one the pull knobs?

That’s a pretty good idea.

[AcampoDave]

Hurst shifters are kind of like what you're describing. And they got the cool factor too.

[Asshat]

Originally Posted by AcampoDave

Hurst shifters are kind of like what you're describing. And they got the cool factor too.

Never seen a Hurst shifter that was detachable. That would be cool.

[AcampoDave]

Originally Posted by Asshat

Never seen a Hurst shifter that was detachable. That would be cool.

Not the shifter, just the stick
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Hurst...hoC2E0QAvD_BwE

[bsarts]

I put a battery disconnect switch next to the seat with a removeable key. Just ran the negative cables back there. Now I have to run a dedicated ground to the battery for the radio though......

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Asshat

I know there’s a chance a car or truck will get stolen, however, I was thinking about a few.
One came to mind, having a detachable shifter. I have a five speed trans, so if the shifter is not in the truck, a thief could not drive it away. Of course it could always be towed, but that’s a different story.

Kinda on the same lines as removing the steering wheel, and a shifter would be a little easier to carry.

You guys know if anyone has done this type of removable shifter?

From what I've been reading, the fact that it had a shifter ( and a clutch pedal) is already a deterrent.

K

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by AcampoDave

Not the shifter, just the stick
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Hurst...hoC2E0QAvD_BwE

The factory Hurst shifter for the New Process A833 (RPO MY6) is like this, except it is retained with a spring clip.

You stab it in for installation; to remove you defeat the clip and slide it out. No threaded fasteners.

[Keith Seymore]

My diesel pickup presently has a small fuel leak = unintentional theft deterrent.

If I forget to manually turn on the electric booster pump then it will run for a few seconds and then shut off.

K

[Thealien]

The problem I see with most theft deterrents is they will come with a ramp truck with fake signs on the door and just take it. It can be stuck in gear the brakes can be locked on and they’ll just drag it up the ramp. None of the neighbors or nobody will even question it and they will just think you’re sending your vehicle out for some work. I don’t know how to prevent that other than a locked garage with maybe another vehicle in front of it.

I am going to need to figure something out also when my 2 Wheel Dr. is finished. I don’t have a lockable garage at the moment but I’m working on it. A garage that would’ve cost $40-$50,000 around here just a couple of years ago is $80-$100,000 now.

[mongocanfly]

If they want it, they will get it...no matter what you do.....sad times

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by Asshat

Of course there’s no sense in removing the shift knob.

Yes, removing the entire shift lever. It’s not a stock 60-66 trans, it’s out of an S10.

Thinking about welding some sort of connector that would mate the shift lever and be fairly easy to remove.

I didn't know, or forgot that you had put in a later model trans, thus the stupid question. I'd hate to pull the stock shift lever out of that trans over and over again!

[Asshat]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

I didn't know, or forgot that you had put in a later model trans, thus the stupid question. I'd hate to pull the stock shift lever out of that trans over and over again!

My thought was to puzzle a thief when he enters the vehicle. Most trucks have a shift lever, so when he does not see one it is not possible to really move the truck. Maybe tow it away - of course, this is always possible. As far as driving the truck, there is no shift lever to get it out of reverse. In addition, I would have the floor covered so it was not evident that the shifter was removed. One could even have a small locking door that prevented access to use vise grips on the shifter, even if they get that far.
Maybe just an access door and a simple way of attaching the shift lever, like a male/female slot with a lock pin.
And, take it a step further and disable the ignition switch on the dash. Put a real ignition switch in the small access cover where the shifter is attached.

Maybe this isn’t that practical, I was just trying to think outside the box.

[AcampoDave]

The best thing to have is good "stated value" insurance which is stated higher than the average selling price for your truck. Then do all the sensible things like locking it up and maybe a theft deterrent device. At least if it gets ripped off, the insurance money will allow you to start again but in a better place than where you started from before. I know that everybody loves their specifc classic ride and wants to keep it, but similar to dogs, we learn to love the new one and move on.

[SkinnyG]

The old VW guys used a shifter that could be key locked into a particular gear.

I've read on here of having a toggle switch that can change the key switch from "starter" to "horn."

A hidden switch to an electric fuel pump, and then you can only drive as far as what's in the float bowl will allow. Probably better than a total kill switch, because then the thief thinks they've won, but then it dies ten feet away.

Alarm systems usually disable the starter wires.

In most of my previous vehicles, I've used aesthetics as my theft deterrent; I'd park next to nicer vehicles.

[Asshat]

Thinking about using a quick disconnect, like an air line coupling; but that may not work out. Possibly a threaded stud on the end of the shift mechanism.

[val1gonzales]

With gas prices as crazy as they are now, and might get higher, could use the fuel theft deterrent device from a from the Mad Max V8 interceptor Falcon.

[Asshat]

Originally Posted by val1gonzales

With gas prices as crazy as they are now, and might get higher, could use the fuel theft deterrent device from a from the Mad Max V8 interceptor Falcon.

How does that work?