Protecting your cat. converter

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Bob Pl
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Protecting your cat. converter

Post by Bob Pl »

Not something new, the theft of these, but my daughter parks in a office park lot in oc and her friend (4Runner) has had the cat cut off her truck 2x lately.

Daughter has similar 2000 Explorer.

What can I do to her truck to "harden" or make it harder to cut the cat off?

I guess one guy is lookout & yhe other uses a batt sawzall & it takes maybe 40 sec.

Thanks.

:)
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Craig Naylor
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Re: Protecting your cat. converter

Post by Craig Naylor »

An alarm with a motion or proximity sensor.

Not like anyone even looks when an alarm goes of these days :roll:

Or maybe a skid plate over the area?
Last edited by Craig Naylor on Mon May 11, 2009 6:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Jeff Shyu
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Re: Protecting your cat. converter

Post by Jeff Shyu »

my 87 toyota PU had the same thing happen.

I welded on flanges and made a "test pipe" to install in its place. now i only put the cat on for smog test.
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Steve Ekstrand
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Re: Protecting your cat. converter

Post by Steve Ekstrand »

KERS system with 600V ready to dissuade the scumbag....
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Bob Pl
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Re: Protecting your cat. converter

Post by Bob Pl »

Thanks guys.

:)
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Reijo Silvennoinen
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Re: Protecting your cat. converter

Post by Reijo Silvennoinen »

Slam it! Then they can't crawl underneath and you'll have the added benefit of greatly increased roll-over protection! :D

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Craig Naylor
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Re: Protecting your cat. converter

Post by Craig Naylor »

Reijo Silvennoinen wrote:Slam it!
Best idea by far!!!
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Steve Ekstrand
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Re: Protecting your cat. converter

Post by Steve Ekstrand »

Do any of the 4wd accessory places have a skid plate type thing for the exhaust cat?
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Bob Beamesderfer
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Re: Protecting your cat. converter

Post by Bob Beamesderfer »

The late '80s-early '90s Toyotas fall victim to cat theft because it's bolted on and easy to get at. The replacement I got is welded in place, but that won't stop the sawzall.

I like the KERS idea.
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Jeff Shyu
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Re: Protecting your cat. converter

Post by Jeff Shyu »

the problem with the truck/suv types is that it's simply too easy for a person to get under the car.

i can easily change the oil on my truck without raising the car. there's room for me to SIT upright under my car (granted, i'm short, but still) where the cat is.

the guys who stole my converter didn't unbolt it at the flanges, they simply cut away the pipe around it.

the "test pipe" is truly the only way to "protect your cat".
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Re: Protecting your cat. converter

Post by Bob Beamesderfer »

I hear about more 4Runners and Toyota pickups falling prey to cat thieves than any other vehicle.
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Jeff Shyu
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Re: Protecting your cat. converter

Post by Jeff Shyu »

the exhaust guy that i went to to put a new cat+test pipe on, told me that those cars used higher quality material, and even 20 year old cats go for 300+ used.
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John Coffey
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Re: Protecting your cat. converter

Post by John Coffey »

Weld a 3/4" 304 stainless rod connecting the cat to as much of the front and rear exhaust pipes as possible. Stainless work hardens when you cut it with a saw so it will very quickly dull a sawzall blade.
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