Has any of you researched security systems and installed one in your car/truck? I'm sure there are many types out there to choose from. I went to a couple of installers, and the price obviously ranges with available options ($130 - $500). I'm just looking for something basic, without electric door locks or fancy paging.
Jerry

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There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Security system? I dont even take the keys out of the ignition,,,

I did paint it bright red with a white stipe. Steal it and see how far you might get.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

I installed a security system, for about two months. Took a day to get initial install in, and another day to get everything nice(these weren't full days, but it wasn't something quick). I took it out because it gave too many false alarms, and added too much wiring that had to be oddly routed since previous wiring never had go to the locations. The coolness factor of hitting a button on a remote and making your car beep and lights flash wears off quickly, I suggest something much cheaper like a battery kill switch or if you happen to have an MSD using the white wire ground kill they've got.

Only deal with an alarms idiosyncrasies if you really have something worth it, otherwise they're just too annoying. Wiring a security system ranks on the level of pain in the butt, though it's not too bad if you take your time.

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My car may be slow to sixty, but at least it's been reliably slow to sixty for more than thirty years.

Actually, the prices I quoted were for an installed system, so the "trouble" factor is negligible on my part. Especially since the car is stripped down to its frame. Now's the time to have it wired, if we do go this route.

My main concern is not theft of the car (Viper Race Yellow with black stripes), but rather vandalism. My son will be parking it at high school, and there has been a rash of vandalism cases this year, for some reason.
Break-ins involving theft of stereos, and some cases of opened cans of tuna being tossed inside on a hot day. Stuff like that. I'll have it wired for the hood, trunk, doors, and vibration (break-in).

I understand that the attention-grabbing effect of alarms, nowdays, is much less than when they first became popular. It's just something else to consider, as we approach the finish line with his project.

Anyone else with a thought??
Jerry

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There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

I installed a bulldog system myself. took ten minutes and cost me $40.

bought it from checker auto.

works pretty good. not as loud as I would like it to be, so I am going to hardwire in a air horn too.

A car alarm won't stop em, it'll just speed em' up.

There was a guy that covered my truck with syrup in last year and unfortunately he was so stupid he bragged about about it and word got back to me who did it.

I caught him in the Wal-Mart parking lot and gave him a real "tune up"

It is virtually impossible to stop vandalism. At my high school all of the cars get messed up during homecoming week and a lot of fights happen that weekend. Being a high school student myself, I know what your son is going through with his Dart. I rarely drive my Duster to school for fear of vandalism

Anybody ever used Lojack?

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

all I have to do is hear the alarm, I'll take care of the rest. I am 230 pounds and been a bodybuilder for almost eight years now.


vandalism is a big problem depending on location. I graduated in 93, and we had allot of it too. I took the bus to keep my car from getting messed with. it sucked, but my car was safe. after you get out of high school no one will care if you rode the bus or not anyway.

currently in my neighborhood theft is a bigger problem, mostly radios. my alarm goes off when the dome light comes on, and its next to my apartment window, so I know I can get there.

Whatever alarm system you use, don't use one that blows the horn when
you turn it on. Your nieghbors will hate you.

I've just rigged a large bright red blinking Light Emitting Diode in the center of my dashboard below the speaker grill. That's all, no noisemakers, sensors, etc., etc. Like someone said, "an alarm just speeds 'em up" and maybe gets your car more trashed. However, the blinking light in the dash just might keep someone from messing with your wheels in the first place.

Of course it could be like snapping your fingers to keep the elephants away, or those cheap deer whistles, but it made ME feel good, and it was inexpensive and easy, and nobody's F***ed with my car since! COINCIDENCE - maybe!

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'64 Dart GT convertible, 64 Dart 170 2-door post sedan in faded blue and rust (the Az Dart) & a sixty THREE Dart 170 2-door post sedan in faded blue and rust. (future project)
Early Dart Disorder (EDD) is real, and I've got it!

I would like to 2nd 64ragtop. When I bought my '71 Plymouth, it had a phony alarm lock stuck to the front fender with double sided tape. For years I had no trouble, but after it fell off and I didn't replace it I had my car broken into.

Coincidence, maybe?

I installed one, but after the first week I remove it, it caused more troubles than can avoid, everytime It drove the car I needed to disable the alarm, a lot of false alarms.

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Mopar Muscle is well defend by Slant Six!

Valiant Duster 1971