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MG MGA - Security and Simichrome

This is two threads in one.

Security - having owned my MGA for four months and really enjoyed the experience now that the summer has arrived I want to get better use by going further afield. Trouble is I am reluctant to park it up and wander away as there is no security on the car. Can anyone give me some ideas how I can get peace of mind without carrying out any major modifications.

Simichrome - I have been told that this is the best metal polish available and not only cleans well but protects as well. Trouble is it appears to only be available in the USA. Shipping costs to the UK costs as much as the polish. Does anyone know of a UK source?
P B Chappell

The simplest method is to remove the rotor from the ignition distributor.
This is low level security only, but better than nothing.
Security methods are something people do not like discussing in an open forum.
If you send your email address to me I will describe a better method.

Mick
Mick Anderson

A boot lock can be installed quite simply. See here: http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgccmga/technic/technic.shtml

A number of us fit battery isolators. Simply take the isolator key with you when you leave the car. It also doubles up as a useful electrics isolator when you are working on the electrics.

Steve

Steve Gyles

The ultimite security feature would be a GPS tracking device. It was disscused here about a year ago.
Kris
Kris Sorensen

The car has a manual choke and a pull starter. That will stop the majority of todays drivers in their tracks.
Bill Haglan

Some simple ones are

1. A fuel cut off...Run a wire to a switch as this will break the power to the fuel pump

2. A car alarm... it can be done using door and hood and trunk pins to activate the alarm, but you have to drill holes

3. Trunk lock..this can be done via a kit by Moss, But you have to drill a hole in the body, or using a locking device inside the car to stop the pull handle from being used, this also can be done to the engine hood or bonnet.

4. A switch to the coil which will break power

5. Main electrical cutoff

6. Motion detector if the car is moved or towed

7. GPS which companies sell and they monitor it.. Lo- Jack is what it is call here in the states. Works good as I live in the Los Angeles area and the police have found many cars in shipping containers at the port

8. One mean dog or one hell of a bitch for a wife( or husband if you are a female reading this)
JEFF BECKER

PB - All of the above suggestions are good (Jeff, I can see the mean dog, but how does one keep a wife leashed in the car?), but one of the best has been overlooked, set the hand brake. There isn't one non MG person in a thoushand nowdays that can release that flyaway brake. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Well I'll address the polish issue. Semichrome is great for older chrome that needs some help. But it is abrasive, so on new or godo condition chrome I don't use it. In this case I prefer to use Mother's Mag & Aluminum polish for dirty chrome or Blue Magic on clean chrome or on a regular basis. Blue Magic leaves a nice protective coating behind to preserve the surface.

http://www.mothers.com/products/productcatalog/wheelprod.html

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/bluemagic.php
Steve Simmons

You're right about that, Dave. When I first got my MGA, the delivery guy put it in the driveway for me. Excited, we dropped the top and hopped in for a drive. I couldn't get the brake off and figured the latch was broken. After trying unsuccessfully to disengage the hand brake including forcing it by hand, whacking the button with a plastic mallet and nearly cutting the hand brake wire in desperation, I tried once more to jar it loose, only this time without my thumb on the "release" button. Obviously that worked. I still didn't know why it disengaged but didn't want to find out until I had a chance to drive the darn thing!
Steve Simmons

Solvool Autosol is better, IMHO. I've tried them both (and others). And cheap(er) in the UK than here. In fact I bought mine on eBay UK and had it shipped.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Autosol-Chrome-Cleaner-great-for-all-type-of-metal_W0QQitemZ8073970445QQcategoryZ72201QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Happy polishing!

TTFN

Derek Nicholson

Oops! That was supposed to be Solvol, though I think that now "Solvol" has been dropped from the name. Just search eBay for Autosol, anyway.

Derek Nicholson

I will second the vote for Autosol. I got some from Hitchcock's in the UK(http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/) when ordering parts for my Enfield. It works at least as well as Simichrome if not better. They are both made in Germany, so don't know why Simichrome is not available in the UK.

Jeff Schultz

I once bet the pink slip to my older, ham fisted brother, that if he could get the parking brake off, the car would be his. The car sits in my garage tonight! The fly off brake is the best security devise.
Paul Hanley

Thanks for the advise - didn't think about the A's natural defences.
P B Chappell

I have a key operated battery disconnect, and a lock on the boot latch.

Hadn't thought of the parking brake as a security device, but it would probably deter the average joyrider. The first time I took mine to get a state inspection, it took the mechanic several minutes to release the brake, even with me telling him how to do it. After having done all the work on my car, I hated to put it in the hands of a mechanic who only knows how to plug in a diagnostic computer to modern cars. I won't have to go through that again as NC has exempted vehicles older than 35 years from state inspections.


Jeff Schultz

Hi
A very long time ago someone described locking attachment, or way to do it, where you can lock your driver seat leaning on steering wheel. It was simple, efective and hidden. I am sorry I do not recall the details but someone out there may recall the setup.
Standard gear stick is great help too, our police recently stoppede a car thief on highway at 10m/h in first gear, no automatic, smoke behind, as he was friyng the engine going nowhere fast.
Martin
Martin

On Martin's theme. I have retained the standard MGA gear knob on my 5-speed conversion. The would-be thief would have to do a bit of experimenting to find reverse gear. Only problem of course is that you could end up with a bit of front end damage as he tries to reverse out of a parking bay!

Steve
Steve Gyles

I changed the main brown wire that goes into the starter solenoid to a detachable spade terminal.

Pull that and all electrics are dead.
Also great when working on the electrics.

What you want is something highly visible .
Steering lock, etc.

Plus I have seen people unscrew the knob on the handbrake after pulling it on tight....

Cheers <MARK>
Mark Hester

This thread was discussed between 10/06/2006 and 12/06/2006

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