73-87 Alarm LED placement

[Pyrotechnic]

I've got my alarm mostly installed but there's one last thing I cant quite decide on.

I don't know where to place the indicator LED. My first thought was to drill a hole in a dash bezel, but all the mods I've done so far are totally reversible and I also decided against cutting the dash for a DIN radio so I don't really want to drill a hole in the bezel at this point.

I tried the LED in the defrost vent, but at night it would be like a beacon saying "hey come look at this truck." I want it visible if someone comes and look in the window but I don't want it visible across an entire parking lot.

I don't want to cut or modify the truck too much but I also want it to look professional. What to do ?

Where do you 73-87 guys have your alarm LED's at ?

[Malo83]

I have my Blue LED coming up thru the middle of the center dash speaker grill for all to see

[canadianc-10]

used to have mine in ashtray above the cig lighter, now its in bezel

[AceX]

Mine is in the speaker grille on the driver's side.

[Pyrotechnic]

Originally Posted by AceX

Mine is in the speaker grille on the driver's side.

On the dash ?

Well let me ask you guys this. Do you think it's better on the dash for all to see or down a little lower ? It's a bright blue LED so it will be very visible at night. Putting it in the defrost vent would be ideal for me because I wouldn't have to do any visible drilling but I wasn't sure if it was good up high like that as in it might make the truck more visible at night where normally it wouldn't get a second look.

[Malo83]

That's the reason I had the LED put on the dash, anybody messing around would see it and move on to another vehicle, and these decals on the wind wings

[pcmcobra]

I put a blue led on drivers pillar.

[Malo83]

Thanks Ken for editing the Pic

[copperchevy]

Put it close to the stereo since that is what thieves look at when trying to break in. I put mine on the plastic piece below the steering column. Didn't want to drill any holes on the bezel also.

[N2TRUX]

You can look at it two ways. One is stealth mode where you don't want the bad guys to know you have an alarm without looking close. The other is to make it obvious that you have an alarm, and it's not just your average alarm.

I did a crewcab dually that was slammed, billet wheels, and wild graphics. In other words it drew a LOT of attention. I wanted an alarm in it that was obviously not "stock".

I drilled a small hole and flush mounted a tiny high intensity led in each door handle, one in the 3rd brake light, as well as one in the dash.

When you walked up from any angle there was no doubt this thing had perimeter protection...

[Pyrotechnic]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

You can look at it two ways. One is stealth mode where you don't want the bad guys to know you have an alarm without looking close. The other is to make it obvious that you have an alarm, and it's not just your average alarm.

Those are the two exact scenarios I've been torn between.

Here's what it looks like now:

Interior wise, there is no visible stereo equipment. Only things of value in sight is a 3 gauge autogauge cluster and a medium sized autogauge tach on the steering column.

The truck will stay mostly how it looks now, which isn't all that flashy. If I ever get the motor back from the damned machine shop, it will have a high compression 350 with a very noticeable idle. The truck is going to be decently quick. This is probably one of my main points of concern.

Also, at this point in time it spends most of it's time parked behind the dorms at my school. The university police make rounds fairly regularly but they aren't there 24/7.

[N2TRUX]

Honestly I would light it up like a Christams tree if you have to leave it out all the time. These trucks are "really" easy to steal. It would such to have some tard steal it and trash it.

[pcmcobra]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Honestly I would light it up like a Christams tree if you have to leave it out all the time. These trucks are "really" easy to steal. It would such to have some tard steal it and trash it.

I agree with Ken, easy to steal. For some added protection, put a hidden kill switch somewhere...make it a little difficult, give you enough time to get out the pistola.

[Pyrotechnic]

That makes sense. This truck is either parked behind the dorms or parked in the street in front of my parents house, never garaged so I guess making the LED very visible is a good idea.

I'll just put it in the defrost vent on the dash.

[Restrorob]

Originally Posted by pcmcobra

put a hidden kill switch somewhere...make it a little difficult,

Your right on track pcmcobra, I'm installing a starter and ignition kill separately with a alarm. Any sucker wants my truck their gonna work for it.

[Pyrotechnic]

What wiring methods do you all recommend for an independent ignition kill switch ?

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Pyrotechnic

What wiring methods do you all recommend for an independent ignition kill switch ?

For some reason everyone uses a switch to interrupt the hot wire to the coil. This allows the truck to turn over, but not start.

I have a different perspective. I don't want the motor to turn over at all. Consequently my approach is to interrupts the neutral safety switch. No matter what the bad guy tries, the motor won't turn over because the truck "thinks" it is in gear.

There are a gazillion location to hide a switch. Look at your truck and get creative. I have used alarm style key switches, push buttons, rockers, etc.