Hi,
Quick question. I've got a '55 (Eldo) and I want to lock the hood when leaving the car unattended. It looks like it might be possible to put an extended padlock through the hood catch. Has anyone done this or has any other ideas?
Thanks,
Andy
Years ago Chapman locks were added. They also served to cut the ignition.
I thought a container lock might work but they all have the lock in the wrong place. I think I might run a chain through the hood locking hoop when the hood is open and then hook a long shank padlock through the grille and chain once I've closed it. I already have an isolator under the hood, so that would render the car immobile. I'll try with the chain tomorrow.
I had thought about this when I owned cars with these sort of open hood locks, which were designed to allow mechanics easy access when the car was on the Service Station Forecourt, so that they could check the under-hood components whilst the fuel tank was being filled via the lock-on bowser nozzle.
What I came up with was a long cable, like a really long Choke cable, and when the cable was pushed in, the central wire would enter a hole that I drilled into the lock, stopping it from being opened.
When it needed to be accessed, just pull the knob out, and the inner wire was pulled out of the way.
BUT, it never got into production because the hood latch was attached to the hood, and when the hood was lifted, where was the cable going to run so that it wasn't in the way.
These days with the multitude of electric solenoids, running a wire down around the hood hinge, and into the passenger compartment so that it couldn't get caught up in anything would be a lot easier.
Bruce. >:D
I used one of those universal hood lock cables that Bruce describes for a 1967 Mustang I had. The quality of it, the method of mounting etc. was all questionable, any good force would just break the thing and you could still get under the hood.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/263173593036?epid=660681770&hash=item3d465e57
I have found a flexible cycle lock that does the job. I just pop the cable through the hood catch and then as I shut the hood I pass the cable through the grille and lock it. Note - the key is inserted at the end of the lock, that made it much easier to use. I also have an electrical isolator fitted under the hood so if I switch that off and then use the hood lock the car is effectively immobilised. It seemed to work well - at least no-one stole my batwing!
I get the desire to lock your hood but tbh what good will it do? If someone wants what's under the hood or to jump start the car they're going to do it regardless if there's a lock there or not. My philosophy is that I only take my car places where I 1. know the people or 2. trust the area. I've left my 55 overnight at a few local hot spots and came back to her ready to head home. Nobody touched my sabre wheels or anything else on the car.
It'll deter opportunist thieves if they can see the bonnet lock in the grille. The lock provides me with some peace of mind.
I've just taken the car to France (from the UK) and left her in a secure hotel car park for four days. No-one is going to drive off in the car, but an opportunist could well just flip the hood for a look-see and cause damage. If someone wants in, they most certainly will - but seeing a lock at the front provides a visible deterrent. It might be different in the US, YMMV.
Your philosophy to only take the car where you know people or trust the area is good but sometimes that's just not possible, especially when touring.
Well, there are two sides to this story. True, a lock is probably going to deter the hooligans, but it might do more damage with a determined thief. I usually do not lock the car, because I would rather loose anything that can be found inside (which is usually nothing) then fix a smashed window.
Over the years, I had only 4 items stolen:
1) Austrian sun glasses (a liked those) :-\
2) A pair of old driving gloves, with holes in them (did not trash these on time, so someone did me a favor)
3) A box of DIY CDs (no idea who took those, I did look around the area to see if they were discarded, no luck)
4) A battery.
Also, had ~5 gallons of gas drained from the tank once ::)
What do you expect an average hooligan would want under the hood? The battery for scrap? You can probably just bolt it in place, if you like. Otherwise, old cars can be a somewhat deterrent in themselves. I've heard multiple stories about someone breaking into a classic and unable to jump-start it, because it was a pedal-start, instead of a turn-key 8)
There is also at least one story where a tow-truck started towing a rare and pricey classic, in broad daylight, in front of a residential complex. The owner came out to ask what's going on, and was told that the car was being towed for some valid reason. He was also asked to show some docs for the car, so he went back into the building to get them. When he returned, in a minute, the car was gone.
Someone with knowledge of these cars could leave you without your washer jar, air cleaner, battery and carburetor. That is an easy couple hundred dollars at least, and all can be taken in a matter of minutes.
In my "other" car I attempted to lock the hood on, I also had all sorts of expensive MSD ignition controllers under the hood in addition to the above minus the jar.
I chose to leave the Cadillac hood as is without a locking mechanism. As stated, if someone is going to want something, they'll get in there anyway.