Locking down hood for security? Best option?

[MykeNytemare]

Hey everyone,

I am actually concerned with the safety of my car as I will likely be driving it as a daily driver for a month or two and parking it outside while we are down one car (extensive rear end damage from collision)

I want to add a set of locking hood pins to help deter/prevent any vandalism as I live in a part of NY where this happens a lot. I am kind of up in the air is this will hurt the value of my car and detract from the looks of the car.

Are there any alternatives to lock down the engine compartment but still being able to easily access it? When I was younger my Gm vehicles had a barrel lock "Chapman lock" under the dash the locked the hood latch via cable. Anyone seen an aftermarket one of those?

 

[themechanic]

You could try adapting something like this one made for locking Jeep hoods that have a hook latch.

http://www.ruggedridge.com/hood-lock-kit-98-06-jeep-tj-and-lj-wrangler.html

Mr Gasket sells a hood pin lock kit for about $25.

 

[Photon440]

In the '70's the under dash remote hood release was getting popular, I'd look for one that could be adapted to your car. Mounting the cable would be the hard part - modifying your latch would be easy.

 

[khryslerkid]

I remember back in the day, people would attach a small chain or cable to the underside of the hood, drop it down thru the opening between the radiator support and grill and padlock it to a place on the lower frame.

 

[kiwigtx]

Hire a small Rental Car until yours is fixed up. :icon_thumleft:

 

[440+6]

Like the Kid said, lock and chain is the way everyone did it back then.

 

[747mopar]

I would consider modifying the latch handle to attach a cable that is routed up to the dash like they are now or you could use a solenoid and open it electrically from inside? I've pondered these very things but I just don't leave it anywhere that is questionable.

 

[Cranky]

When I was driving my 66 Belvedere as a daily I used a pair of homemade hood pins that were threaded and double nutted them. Never had a problem. Only Mopars can be bolted shut lol

 

[Dennis H]

Park where well lit. Had a chain back in the day, was a PIA. Buy good insurance and relax.

 

[72Fourspeed]

Alarm ?

 

[MykeNytemare]

Hire a small Rental Car until yours is fixed up. :icon_thumleft:

Thinking I'll pony up for a cheap rental and avoid having to drive it in a state of constant worry. Thanks for being the voice of reason and preventing me from doing something rash ;-)

 

[kiwigtx]

Thinking I'll pony up for a cheap rental and avoid having to drive it in a state of constant worry. Thanks for being the voice of reason and preventing me from doing something rash ;-)

No problem....you'll find the THANKS button on the bottom left of my post :glasses2:

 

[64BEL]

Back in the old days, I had a little padlock in place of one of my hood pin clips on my '70 GTX. There was a rumor that someone in my town wanted to steal my intake and carbs. I never did have any trouble, tough.