If you were a thief and you wanted to steal an LT1 F body, how would you do it?
The purpose of the question is to gain knowledge on how to make the cars more theft-resistant. I’m sure we would all feel a little more secure with some better protection.
I’m wondering about steering column collars, fuel/ignition/PCM cut off switches, how to prevent VATS by-passing, etc.
__________________ -MEDIUM BLUE METALIC 1999 Trans Am A4, 3.42 rear, Moser axels, Racetronic pump & wiring, LS6 intake manifold, ZR1 9's & 11's, SSBC 13" 4 piston friction, truck coil conversion, PCMforless tuned, Magnaflo stainless cat-back. -71 Monte Carlo SS454 496 CID, 600HP
get lojack. if they want your car bad enough they'll get it regardless. at least lojack will let you know where it is. they have a 90% recovery rate. hopefully they get to it before it's been stripped or put in a container to ship overseas.
__________________ 94 Z28: Forged 385 LT1 | Plenty Bolt Ons | Heads & Cam | 4L60E Built and Stalled | Suspended | M/T Drag Radials | Moser 12 Bolt w/3.91s Aiming for the 11 second club
Maybe a better question would be how many stolen Lt1's do you here of?
I live in one of the worst area's for stolen vehicles and am not aware of any Lt1's being stolen.Now third gen's are a different story my 88 got jacked and I caught 2 kids debating on stealing my 91 Z.Someone tried to get my 94 T/A but, no luck all they did was fuck the stearing column up.
If you were a thief and you wanted to steal an LT1 F body, how would you do it?
The purpose of the question is to gain knowledge on how to make the cars more theft-resistant. I’m sure we would all feel a little more secure with some better protection.
I’m wondering about steering column collars, fuel/ignition/PCM cut off switches, how to prevent VATS by-passing, etc.
Perhaps the only safe way is to hide the vehicle. Most repo pots are done with a key. A vin # in the wrong hands will get you a key. A key will allow you to drive the car off. Tow truck and a tiltback also work.
Think the best deterrent would be mandatory execution for three strikes offenders. Auto theft gets a slap on the wrist for the first couple offenses in most areas.
Maybe if we began eradicating this vermin we could crush the subculture that glorifies theft, drugs and violence. Solve the problem rather than treat the symptom.
That said I know guys that put the fuel pumps on hidden manual switches and other unique custom stuff like that. Best defense is going to be creativity on your part, anything public and popular a defeat will be devised for.
Im glad to say i dont know how to steal these cars I spent the early 91 and 92 locked up "were i should have been" for taking third gen. cars Im just glad gm made it harder to take. I could have a 3rd gen car started in less than 5 sec. I keep my 94Z locked in the garage with everything disconnected, i know not everyone has this option. Here's what i do know stering colum locks are easy to crack open the club is worthless it can be cut thru in 2 seconds . Alarms have gotten alot better the problem is most people put the siren in a place thats easy to get to and cut the wires giving a theif more time to get it started. Just have to do your homework on alarms and make sure they are installed properly. I have one with a keychain so it rings on my keys as well
__________________ R.I.P. Dad, I will love and miss you forever
Wesley Clyde Brown (Jim)
10-22-1949 - 2-11-2011
I WISH I HAD MORE TIME : ( 1994 Z28 A4 www.fquick.com/djjab57 http://www.ardsucks.com/
im always paranoyed about my shit getting stolen...i wanted to learn how to put those hidden switches in the car so it couldnt be driven away....i know the battery disconnect is prob the easiest to do...
OK First the outside siren is pretty much ignored now... to many people let theres just go off. (And they can be easy to cut).
Step 1) In door alarm of high Dec to keep people out or make them def. This will get your stupid Theifs.
Step 2) Kill Switch to the Ignition after the VATS or Fuel you choose. My friend makes a setup thats a kill switch made of things you would not even think of and you would never see. He has asked me not to mention it but PM Runamuck, you will laugh and say "Thats amazing" when he tells you what he can do for you.
Step 3) This is the easiest. Yes LoJack Works. No those Alarm Pagers are not really going to help you to much. The alarms that do work are the ones with C3. These actually watch your car and report to your cell phone. This is the only true way to actually get any real distance (To say go into a Mall or for those without a walmart I guess) and know whats going on with your car. Not to mention track it every step of the way.
As stated the Club is worthless, LoJack is nice but personally I like things coming to my cell phone not going else where. Being as close to Mexico as I am we see cars taken all the time. And of the Camaros/Firebirds to steal 93-97 are easier (I believe it was 98 where the vats actually became vehicle spec and not just a range of the same signal). But frankly these guys will take anything and the tow truck thing is something people do not question. They see a vehicle being taken they assume repo or broken not theft.
Can't keep it from getting towed, but installing a fuel pump switch is probably the easiest way to do it. Most are automatic these days with the key. Just put a toggle somewhere that's out of site and out of the way. Most people don't think about it when stealing a car. Could do the same for an ignition switch. Just have two toggles under the dash, behind the glove box, or somewhere else that have to be switched on for the car to run.
LoJack works.... IF you can find a police department that has the very expensive receiver (many do not) and IF that police dept is close enough... cost/benefit is not there
as long as the punishment doesn't fit the crime,they will get it ,if they want it. also lately there have been many reports of muscle cars,classic cars being stolen while at major events,cruises etc. if you go to one,go with a club,have sucure accommadation,and stay by your car. all these jerks are going to do is rip all your hard work apart,and sell the parts for drug money. yes it sucks!
__________________ 71 z28 a3, 95 z28 a4. hockey lover.
Buy a Boot and keep it on when ever you park lol But still a tow truck COULD get around that with a good winch. For older cars, cut off switches are really nice. A fair idea would be to get an old foot actuated HiBeam switch mounted on the floor, it might be less conspicuous. For extra security, you could always have a backup switch for the starter or fuel pump (which wouldn't help much if it's mechanical).
the fuel switch again is a great idea. my father did this after intalling a electric fuel pump on his chevelle. a few months later some jerk got in and stole it but he only made it about half a block before the carb ran out of fuel. and if coarse worse case get comprihensive insurance.
I have heard the ravleco is good. Google it. Lojack will not do jack if they go into mexico with your car.
GMHTP did a write up on that a while ago.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Revelation Z28
i can fit my arms in between the roof seal and the window
Skinny arms for the win. I can do that too and it's amazingly benefitial when working on these cars.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Formula350
Buy a Boot and keep it on when ever you park lol But still a tow truck COULD get around that with a good winch. For older cars, cut off switches are really nice. A fair idea would be to get an old foot actuated HiBeam switch mounted on the floor, it might be less conspicuous. For extra security, you could always have a backup switch for the starter or fuel pump (which wouldn't help much if it's mechanical).
Pretty much, as said, 4th Gens are fairly secure.
The boot really is a joke. All you have to do is jack the car up about a foot and a half and slide the thing off. It takes about 2 minutes at the most.
When they tried to Jack my 3rd gen a simple ignition kill kept it in place. No Sirene to warn them and they had no idea what the blinking light was that did not set off a sirene
They DID do $2,000 damage to the steering column and consoul but I was driving it again fully rebuilt by the Insurance Co. is four days
They stole four that night in my home town. Mine was not one of them they found burned in the valley to hide there left overs!
When it comes to a 4th gen if they really want it they will just tow it off.
__________________ Ellis Groo
Alky burning 3/4 flat top race cam with roller pistons, big block rockers and a ported LS6 Intake!
1678RWHP on my SOP Dyno!
If you were a thief... 
Aiming for the 11 second club 
Jakes Dad
1994 Z28 A4
