Howdy Guys,

Well, last night, I was hit by some gas thieves. This problem will no doubt only get worse as gas prices go up this summer. Unfortunately, the 'bird has to sleep out of doors :-(

Does anyone have a way to lock the gas door (it's a 68 'bird) closed without damaging the outside of the door? I was thinking of have a ring braised onto the inside of the door and drilling a hole through the body panel into the trunk, putting a hook by wire through the hole and attaching it to the ring on the door. You'd have to open the trunk to release the hook. Sounds like a real Rube Goldberg answer to a small problem.

I've tried to get a locking gas cap that will fit, but nothing I've found will.

Jerry

i have seen locking gas caps on 67-68 birds.have you tried napa or auto zone?

Yes, I've tried the locking caps. Nothing is small enough to fit into the tight hole that the cap goes into. I think my 'bird may have a problem with how the gas filler tube is installed and I'm looking at that, since the space is so tight, but in the interim, I'm looking for alternatives.

Jerry

Can you for now, back it up close to something like the Garage door or park another car close behind it etc?

I'd say you might have to hunt for a locking gas cap that will fit... I know they are out there.
Maybe even check the catlogs or parts houses?

Good luck, sorry to hear that... but thanks for the tip... now I'll have to tighten security on all my cars that are outside!

Brett - 67 Drop Top 455!

i had the same problem finding a locking gas cap that was small enough in diameter to work

so i bought the plastic fram one from kragen (autozone) and ground the outside edge off and it fits great now

Brett,

Yeah, I'm backing it up to the garage tonight. Bastereo--Thanks for the hint, I'll check it out.

Jerry

I was gonna suggest what Brett said( he always beats me to the punch :p ), you can try something like this Ebay , have the Smith & Wesson loaded and get r dun

Kel

How about a motion sensor light on your garage where the car is parked?

Then the *%*%$)&^^%### thieves will be able to see really well when they siphon the gas, but it would make it easier to get a bead on them with the Smith & Wesson.

German Shepheard !

let him sleep by the rear of the car!

when I had mine , always let him "watch" my parked convertible (top down), never got parking tickets!!

Lights are good, so is the dog, thieves like easy targets. My home is surrounded by motion activated flood lights, dual lamps at each position. You can't approach my home from any direction without setting them off.

A "smile you are on camera" sign might help too. Then just be on the lookout for anyone wearing a Richard Nixon mask.

Years ago there you could buy a coil spring that could be inserted into the filler neck. It would prevent the siphon hose from going into the tank. I'm not sure if you can still get them. It is a conical-shaped spring.

I have motion detector lights and one night some thieves tried to walk in to my carport, set the light off and they ran so fast they tripped over my woodpile and made a mess of it (and hopefully themselves). It worked great!

You can also buy thise fake surveillance cameras(I have one by the front door along with a home made set of security stickers) and to date have had no further problems (touch wood).

I like the idea of a simple mechanism triggered from inside the trunk. Makes sense and could be easily manufactured. But, if the thief has a crowbar or large screwdriver you'll lose the gas AND the gas door.

Motion lights and a garage are my answer. In the 70's my Dad left empty shotgun shell boxes scattered around our carport and hung a few Warning signs.

Man, I'm glad that I don't have to deal with that stuff in my neighborhood, the main reason I don't consider moving.

i think claymore mines would be the best idea.after a few got their balls blown off;they will be afraid to go on anybody's property without permission

Hi Guys!

Jeez! Gone for a day and a whole lot of ideas! I like the trunk monkey best (don't remember the commmercial, but if you haven't seen it, it's a riot!), but the empty shotgun shells sound good too.

Seriously, I actually found a locking gas cap that kind of fits, the door won't close, but right now, it hangs open anyway. If I take the bird emblem off the door, I think it would close.

Amervo--I live in a good neighborhood too. Thing is that with gas going up and up, I think that people who don't have a lot of money will be theiving gas more often then we've seen in a long time.

I think we're only going to be in this house for a few more years, and we'll be looking for one with a 3-car garage!

Unfortunately, I'm getting more and more worried about security as I put more money into the car :-(

Jerry

"Support your local sheriff" A James Garner classic, rent it, might give you some ideas too.

Along with the lights, how about a note inside the filler door, that says, If I catch you, you will be wearing a new pair of perfect fitting cement shoes for your swim in _____ (insert nearest river)!

Another (more practical) approach; How about a lockable cover? You said your bird is out all day/night?

I guess I'm a bit more evil than most. I'd rather "catch 'em", using some type of wireless alarm, than scare 'em off with motion detectors lights. I do have X10 motion lights in front and back of my house and like them, but man, once you rip me off, I want some revenge

Kel

How `bout a string to a tape player ,that once you open the gas door , it starts and says:
"Gotcha, hands up or I blow your head off "

All kidding aside, it may be the whole car next.

I have a car cover that as a "lock" on it. Basically, it's got a plastic-covered wire cable that slips under the middle of the car and locks. Problem is that I live in Las Vegas where winds at any time of the year can be between 20-40 mph. More than once, heck, more than a dozen times, I've found the cover wadded up on the curb away from the wind, the cable rubbing on the side of the car. I've kind of given up on it until I can figure out how to put grommets in both ends and string some cable under both front and rear bumpers to keep the darned thing on.

Jerry

4dabird, nice approach my friend, with the simple note inside the gas door saying maybe

"I'm taping you, and yer kinda ugly. My .357 mag hasn't been shot for two months now. Go ahead, make my day."