No, I don't feel a desire to hotwire a car. We all know about the "Steal Me Junction" that old Fords have on the fender apron (Chrysler had theirs on the firewall). My question is: can these cars be hotwired if they have the Duraspark ignition? 'Seems to me that if a hot wire were run to the coil, there still wouldn't be any power to the Duraspark box. Is a car with Duraspark safer from being hotwired than one with a points ignition?...
I would think if you knew which wire to jump on the box, then it would be just as easy but who now a day would know this? Also, how many people under 40 even know what points are to jump them? Plus, you still have to overcome the steering wheel lock. Probably just as easy to rip out the lock and start it with a screwdriver, like back in the day. Micah
Where there is a will there is a way. BTW By mid '70s there is a "lock plate" inside column, at rear of tumbler that prevents easy removal of cylinder without using a slide hammer.
From that schematic it looks to me that if a thief were to jump 12v to the coil primary + it would backfeed and power up the Duraspark module through the circuit 20 white/light blue wire. That 1.1Ω resistor wire probably wouln't slow things down. Or he could jump power to the ignition fuse (or, oddly, the carb vent solenoid) if here were smart enough (ha!). But he still has to deal with the column lock on 68up. As for my classic cars, I rarely lock any of them, even when I'm out of town with them. Popping windows takes a split second and doesn't slow down the thief, it just makes it more messy. If a thief wants it, he's gonna get it, and they usually involve a towtruck these days. If I'm in a hotel sometimes I'll have a buddy park sideways in front of my car to prevent a wrecker from grabbing it. If you're parking them outside at home they should be locked.....
With factory hookup I agree, still most Maverick with Duraspark are someone's "home" modification. Duraspark was first used in '75 (OK '74 in Calif). Ford didn't have locking columns until 1970. Early Maverick (AKA '69½) didn't use locking column.
Yeah, GM had the locking column in '69, Ford & Chrysler got it in '70. Chrysler actually used the GM mechanism in '70 until they got their own developed for '71. I know thieves van just break the ignition lock. I guy I used to know had a box-truck stolen that way. They broke the wing window, unlocked the door, and you know the rest. He had to get the steering column replaced when the truck was recovered. I was just curious about whether or not the "Steal Me Juncton" would be more difficult to utilize for hotwiring with Duraspark...
