Houston, we have a problem......
I know my '77 has the factory alarm on it, but people don't exactly react to a honking horn sound. I bought an awesome alarm system with features I don't even want or can't use. (Like remote start etc.) The main feature I like is that it comes with a pager-like remote that not only goes off when the car is tampered with, but it shows you on a graphic display which sensor was triggered. This of course will alert me as soon as it happens (so I can get to the thief and do a little body ventlation) instead of ending up standing in the space my Vette USED to be.:wtf:
So I have called and visited several "Pro" install shops only to be told "we can't hook that up to your car". It seems that because they can't plug this cable into that cable, they have no clue how to simply hook up the hood switch, door switches and a motion switch.
And these are "Pro's"?!?!?:wtf: :smack: :banghead:
Does anybody know of an install shop (In Orlando) with an empoyee who has even a marginal amount of electronics skills? I mean I know that cutting a connector off of the alarm, stripping a bit of casing off of the tips and connecting them to the wires that lead from the door and hood switches is just a step below rocket science, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed here.:toetap05:

As a professional car audio installer for over 11 yrs. here in Tennessee, you wouldn't believe how few truly good alarm installers there are left out there... couple of reasons are because the newer cars are difficult to learn, if you haven't mastered some of the older cars. Alarms are something that you need to have a starting point from which to build, preferably on older cars with less computers, airbags, and sophistication than the current ones.
That being said, some shops won't even install an alarm if it wasn't bought from them... usually because of warranty issues if your alarm malfunctions, and the car's wiring is burned up, to whom does the blame lie on? The installer's work, or the alarm the customer bought from another store?? Weird, I know, but that is the reasoning.
Me, I am an alarm and wiring specialist, and I have done alarms on many expensive and sophisticated cars, and I am proud to say that I have not burned a car's harness to the ground, blown any airbags, etc. :thumbsup: I personally enjoy doing alarms, and I am always up for a new car challenge. What you need is to find a good, experienced alarm installer who will explain to you his alarm experiences, and can explain to you that indeed your alarm CAN be wired to your '77 Corvette.
Even though you bought an alarm with keyless entry, and remote start, yes, it can be installed on your vette without those features hooked up. No problem... actually, the old C3 Corvettes are as easy as hooking up an alarm to a 1970 Chevy Truck. :iagree:
I can even tell you the factory wiring colors you need to hook to, if you need... really, it is an easy car to work on, and any shop that has a capable alarm technician that knows what a digital multimeter is will know how to wire up your alarm.
If you need to, bring it up here to TN., and I can do it for you. :thumbsup: I plan on being in Palm Beach in a couple of weeks to work on a client's 2008 Z06, so if you haven't got it done by then, we will have a Corvette Installation party!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

As a professional car audio installer for over 11 yrs. here in Tennessee, you wouldn't believe how few truly good alarm installers there are left out there... couple of reasons are because the newer cars are difficult to learn, if you haven't mastered some of the older cars. Alarms are something that you need to have a starting point from which to build, preferably on older cars with less computers, airbags, and sophistication than the current ones.
That being said, some shops won't even install an alarm if it wasn't bought from them... usually because of warranty issues if your alarm malfunctions, and the car's wiring is burned up, to whom does the blame lie on? The installer's work, or the alarm the customer bought from another store?? Weird, I know, but that is the reasoning.
Me, I am an alarm and wiring specialist, and I have done alarms on many expensive and sophisticated cars, and I am proud to say that I have not burned a car's harness to the ground, blown any airbags, etc. :thumbsup: I personally enjoy doing alarms, and I am always up for a new car challenge. What you need is to find a good, experienced alarm installer who will explain to you his alarm experiences, and can explain to you that indeed your alarm CAN be wired to your '77 Corvette.
Even though you bought an alarm with keyless entry, and remote start, yes, it can be installed on your vette without those features hooked up. No problem... actually, the old C3 Corvettes are as easy as hooking up an alarm to a 1970 Chevy Truck. :iagree:
I can even tell you the factory wiring colors you need to hook to, if you need... really, it is an easy car to work on, and any shop that has a capable alarm technician that knows what a digital multimeter is will know how to wire up your alarm.
If you need to, bring it up here to TN., and I can do it for you. :thumbsup: I plan on being in Palm Beach in a couple of weeks to work on a client's 2008 Z06, so if you haven't got it done by then, we will have a Corvette Installation party!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Thanks for the reply and I know what you mean about it being an easy install to do. I was just trying to avoid doing it myself. When I bought my '79 Camaro I drove it up the street to a place called Ice Cold Radiator (or something like that) because the sign said they sold and installed alarms. I bought a plain-Jane "Prestige" alarm with 2 door, 1 hood and 1 motion sensor and the guy installed it right in front of me in about 30 minutes. BUT...when I took my Vette by the place, it was gone and so began my telephonic search of all the local installers.

Dave what is a good alarm system? The best?

Viper, hands down!!! Lifetime warranty as well, except on the transmitters. :thumbsup:

Directed Electronics, or DEI, makes the Viper alarm system as well as Clifford, Python, Hornet, Valet, Automate, Clarion's Ungo system, and a whole host of other systems.

The Viper or Python is the absolute best they make, and both have the smae warranty. Viper transmitters have blue transmitters, Python have black &/or carbon fiber. :thumbsup: