Hello.
I'm the proud new owner of a 1969 F100. I live in Los Angeles and I'm wondering about theft risk. How easy are these cars to break into and/or steal? Should I club it?
Also, while I've got your attention, I need to know about the turn signal switch in the column. Where can I get a good replacement and how much can I expect to spend? Is this an easy fix once I get one?

Thanks in advance for the replies.

 

As for theft??? Depends on how nice it is I guess? If they want it...they'll take it no matter what.

If you can pop the latch on the wing window..you can get in pretty easy. Slider rear windows add another option for getting in.

Add a manual fuel valve behind the seat. This would at least slow them down after they try to get down the street. I dont think they would look to hard for why it quits, but hopefully it would keep YOUR truck yours.

The turn signal switch should be an easy purchase(from any reproduction catalog) and a relatively simple install. Pull steering wheel, remove wires from plug at bottom of column, pull wires out. Install switch and re-assemble in reverse.

Been there, done that.

Larry

 

You might install a switch to the coil. Where you put it is up to you. No fire no go.

 

yeah fuel shut off valve is a good idea.....

 

just make sure when you lock your doors they are all the way closed cause if they are on the first catch all you have to do to unlock the door is push it the rest of the way closed if they are after these body style trucks the thief will know this just my 2 cents worth.

 

good points i think i would be more worried about motor parts maybe a hood latch??????

 

Easiest way to bust in is thru the wing window, just break the hinge rivet. The rear slider is even better if it's got one. Get a hood lock, truck club and a flashing LED to discourage the low life.

 

These trucks are incredibly easy to hot wire. Another suggestion: go by www.submitracing.com and get a brake lock. Even if they manage to start they won't go anywhere!

 

I like the idea of a fuel valve. When I added the saddle tanks in the bed I put a valve down by the seat adjuster to switch tanks. It has four detents but only two of them feed fuel. When I leave the truck I put the valve in one of the dead detents. The way I see it if someone hot wires it they can drive it about a mile before the fuel in the carb is gone. I doubt that if the truck dies in the middle of the street a low life will not try to figure out what has gone wrong but just leave it.

 

How about if you just take the spark coil wire with you if you leave it somewhere questionable. That will certainly keep someone from getting it started (add a hood lock so they can't see it's missing!). It's a pain, but it would work. About the only security measures in my truck is the barbed wire in the back.. that might make you think twice about getting in the bed of the truck

If someone really wants your truck.. they're gonna get it. I don't worry about it too much, in fact my doors have never been able to lock since I've owned it.. I don't worry much about it (see my gallery).

 

Try www.brakelock.com. I installed one, as have other FTE/ Ford owners, and it works great. Having all four wheels locked, were destroying the brake system is the only way to move the truck besides a flatbed, will go a long way to keeping your truck.

Plus, it works great as a back up parking brake system. I use mine all the time when I am winching something (like a tree) with the truck running. I have compressed my suspension and sunk my tires into the ground pulling so hard with the brakes locked. It works great.

Read about it in the accessories forum too, about a year ago.

The risk is low, because it is not a one a thief will steal, it is more a target of joy riders and it is very easy to steal.

First thing - brake lock!

2nd thing - a club -

On your steel steering wheel it is tough to remove vs. a newer plastic steering wheel. Sawing through 3/16 steel with a hacksaw is not an easy job and would require a sawzall to do it fast. The club will deter a casual thief.

3rd.

Put a real lock (chain and padlock) on the hood. Make it as hard as possible to open that hood.

4th
Alarm - to deter damage from potential knot heads that do not get the idea with the club.

#1 - about $150 total if you do the work yourself.
#2 - $30 for the real one
#3 - about $20 for 3/8 chain and a weather protected lock.
#4 - about $150 for a good one from autoloc.com

#1-#3 are a time things, #4 is an attention thing.

 

What about a battery cut off switch? I added a blinking LED light just for looks since my alarm decided to freak out on me, and since I have actually broken into my truck using only a coat hanger (I shaved the handles and manage to get locked out every once and awhile) I now have thought about adding a battery cut off switch. They cant hotwire it with no juice. If anyone knows about these, are they safe to mount externally? I cant mount mine in the cab, since I need the battery on to open the doors.
-Tristin
http://onefine69.classicbroncos.com

 

For those with the factory dual tanks, flip the lever to the "off" position. It will run out of gas a few blocks away and they're not that smart to figure it out.

 

I would think that a battery cut off switch could easily be bypassed (at least from the battery switches that I have seen).

 

Get one of those stickers that says "Guns don't kill people, I do". Also, get a really big, mean dog, and keep it in the cab. Also, you could wire up a car horn so that it goes off whenever power is applied to the coil (key on position), with a switch somewhere under the dash that you can use to shut it off. Kind of a "poor man's alarm" What do you think?? Never tried it myself, but its a thought.