The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Shaved Door Handle Switches?

Hi everyone. I finally got some solenoids for my shaved door handles (no more leaving the vent window unlocked and reaching around and unlocking the door for me! ) on my 62 chev truck. My question is what should i use for switches and where should i put them? These are non remote solenoids i just got from power trunk cars. My idea so far is using a keyed switch and putting it in the box somewhere. Like an old ignition switch thing. I want to keep thives away but also have it kinda easy for me to get in. I am also thinking about having the hood lock with a cable on the inside of the cab in the future so i can't put the door handle switches under the hood. I might be able to use remote from newer car with power truck remote but how much crap do i have to take out of car to use it? and what exatly do i have to take out? Any advice would be great thanks!

You could use two sealed switches, one for each door. Check online for Omron, Marquardt, or other quality switch makers. The crap from Radio Shack won't last long. Make sure to use switches rated for the solenoid current.
You could also have a small on/off keyswitch mounted elsewhere for disabling the door locks. That way you wouldn't have to use key EVERY time to get in.

Also, the car audio/lock & alarm places have keyring fobs and receivers to drive door latch solenoids. They cost around $50-$150 depending on model and features.

I don't know if I'd put the hood latch in the cab. If the battery went dead, you'd have trouble getting in.

sounds fun!

Chip

A friend had mounted a glass reed switch inside one of the tail lights and as long as you have a magnet like the ones on the Hide a key your ok. You can also add a remote batt terminal as well.

Albert, what an incredible idea ... that ones on the list for the Toad ...

I won't have shaved door handles out here tho' ... they're illegal. Police claim they can't get into a wreck if the door handles are missing. Right, and non of them have a gun, billy club or big flashlight and none of 'emm know how to kick.

Fatfenders, they say it is illegal as it really short circuits their brain cell when they see there is no door handle.I guess they totally forget that there are other ways of getting in

and what if the doors are locked?

There is a cops episode where the bad guys rear end this innocent vehicle stopped on the freeway that instantly bursts into flames. The door is locked and one cop beats on the driver door's glass about 20 times before it finally bursts and they can pull the now burning man out through the opening.

Not a pretty sight.

If I was trying to get you out of your burning wreck and reached for the door handle and there wasn't any I would think you ffing idiot. Then I would go look for a rock I guess.

Sweet truck PJ....
For the remote entry, i would suggest a basic alarm system. I did a 68 with one and it worked well. for the hood, i didn't put a lock on it, but i put a pin-switch that would set off the alarm if someone opened it. it also disabled the starter too. most alarms come with that option. The only disadvantage is when people would want to help themselves to a look under the hood. it did a good job of giving them a headache.
just remember to keep some sort of access in incase you loose your keys or the batery dies. for the passenger door, i just reversed the latch assembly, and had a system set up to where i could reach under the cab corner, pull a rubber plug and pull the latch open via a lever. Pain in the a** but it worked for those emergencys that you never plan on having....

Thanks for the input everyone. I also thought about the car alarm idea that you can hook up "power" things to it so i might use that idea. For now i am going to hook up 2 different switches that are locked in the truck box. 2 swtiches one for each door incase something messes up with one of them i can still opent the other one. Not sure if it is illegal here in ontario i have seen other vehicles with them shaved so not sure? Maybe i should have found that out before i did it? Oh well i will see what happens i will pleade ignorance if i get pulled over and questioned about them.

I also installed a kill switch in a nissan 300zx once for a friend, put the switch under the rubber gear shift boot to disable the fuel pump, you could only feel for it if you knew where it was and than taped all the wires like factory..

i'm not sure how far along you are on this, but you can put a remote soleniod kit in for around $239. try this site:

http://www.customclassic.com/catalog/products/shave/universalultra.htm