How Do I Lock My Hood???

[Chip327]

I was reading about the theft deterrent options people have put on their trucks and it got me thinking..... (it hurt just a little ). How do you guys lock your hood down and make it look good. Currently I have an alarm system on my truck with a trigger pin on the hood that sounds the siren as soon as it is lifted ( Did I mention the siren is pointed right at the front of the truck , hee hee. Good for a laugh on a friend once in a while. )

Anyways , what are some suggestions for securing the engine department?? Want to protect the time and money that has gone into the powerplant under there. Any pictures to show too???

[lpaine]

Chip327- I've been thinking of doing this myself, your best bet might be to take a look around the wrecking yards in your area to see if a hood release from a newer car/truck is adaptable; it would be a good investment of time and money imo, I'm always worried my battery is going to get ripped off, (touch wood!) its just too easy for a thief to get in there-let us know how you make out on that one. Best of luck.

[SWINGSAX68]

In my dads 79, he had a chain bolted to the hood through one of the ribs that supports the hood, closest to the front. It ran from the left towards the center of the hood, out the center and over the center part where the latch meets the grille. I don't know how he locked it, but he used a pad lock for sure...somewhere.

[oldsub86]

I use one of those plastic covered cables that people use to secure bikes. I cut one of the formed ends off and ran it through a hole in the underside of the hood and secured it with a bolt down type cable clamp. The cable is long enough to drop straight down behind the grill and the other formed end goes through a hole in the pan ahead of the rad support just far enough that I can snap a padlock onto it. There is enough slack to permit the hood to lift an inch or two but not enough to get under and do anything unless you remove the padlock or cut the cable. Wouldn't stop the determined thief but it will slow down someone who just wants to "borrow" your battery etc.

[bigvinnie]

You can get a universal hood release kit from places like Napa that allows you to remove the external hood latch....uses a cable and T-handle that allows you to release the hood from inside the cab, much like the newer vehicles... been thinking about doing that myself...

[68CST327]

When I used to lock the hood, I just used the old bicycle lock method.

[Chip327]

I like the Universal Hood Release Kit idea Vinny as long as it looks good in the cab and works good for opening when needed. Another idea I was toying around with was a keyed lock cyclinder mounted on the front somewhere. With a little creativity should be able to make something look really nice if done properly. Ill price a universal hood release kit out too though. Its exactly that - Keep someone elses mitts off and out of our trucks lol. They can put the sweat and dollars into building their own instead of grabbing from ours.

[Southpa]

Toying with the idea myself, mainly for keeping my battery. I like the universal hood release idea too! Having padlocks etc. in full view might just make thieves think you have something worth stealing.

[bobs409]

I've been meaning to try and fab in one from a newer truck but haven't tried it yet. (have to remember to pick one up from the junkyard)

If you do lock your hood with something like this, check with your insurance company as they may give you a discount for it. They like things like this. Alarm systems, passive seat belts, etc. It's worth a try anyhow...

[bpmcgee]

Just sort of thinking out loud here, but bear with me:

1) Would it be possible to make a little bracket to mount a door lock cylinder in the grill?

2) It might be possible to use a cable from that to a bracket lined up with the pin that holds the hood down.

3) If one could do that, then a hole could be drilled in that hood pin so that the lock could push a rod through that and secure it to the radiator assembly.

If this could be done, then turning the key could lock or unlock the hood. It could use your normal key, and be pretty invisible.

You think this would work?

Brian

[bobs409]

Sounds like it could work. Sure would be original. Good idea! How about adding a solenoid or door popper so you could open it with a remote? Hey, we could be on to something here... I've always been on the lookout for something that will make me rich.


After seeing monster garage and junkyard wars, not too much that's not possible I'd say.

[bpmcgee]

Anyone interested in trying this?

I've got basically no tools or skill in doing metal fabrication, so making the brackets is outside of my field. If someone was able and interested to try it, though, I could come up with some scale drawings.

[trinic]

Only problem I see with locking down your hood with a chain/lock, is that if your engine happens to catch fire and you have an extinquisher, then it might take a while before you open it up causing more damage. The universal kit sounds good to me or even the solenoids used on doors.....
Just my two cents...

Better yet, why not rig up one of them STUN GUNS with 625,000 Volts to your original handle, but have a handle hidden to the side that only you or your friends use to open the hood......hehhehehhe
Just Kidding...

[sneakysnake]

I had a 67 that I put a set of locks that looked like racing hood pin locks exept they used a key for a flushed mount the key looked like one for a coke machine, had pins that screwed into the core support and when the hood closed you turned the key to lock it, seems like they come from Hi-Lo auto parts but its been a while

[bigvinnie]

here's a link to a universal kit, I'm pretty sure napa sells a cheaper version...

http://www.streetrodcatalog.com/prod...essories.shtml

[71-longbed]

i bought one of these ..works good

http://www.chevelle.danchuk.com/page568.html

[1-PU70]

You can get a hood release from inside that lockes with a key and kills the ignition. They used to be called chapmen locks. I see them in all the Jeep catalogs and I know JC Witny sells them
http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jht...D=4708&BQ=jcw2
Thats the link to it. Whats good about it is the key part is in the cab so it wont rust or freeze.