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Protecting your cat. converter
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 6:38 pm
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.

Re: Protecting your cat. converter
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 6:50 pm
by Craig Naylor
An alarm with a motion or proximity sensor.
Not like anyone even looks when an alarm goes of these days
Or maybe a skid plate over the area?
Re: Protecting your cat. converter
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 6:51 pm
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.
Re: Protecting your cat. converter
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 7:00 pm
by Steve Ekstrand
KERS system with 600V ready to dissuade the scumbag....
Re: Protecting your cat. converter
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 9:12 pm
by Bob Pl
Thanks guys.

Re: Protecting your cat. converter
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 10:28 pm
by Reijo Silvennoinen
Slam it! Then they can't crawl underneath and you'll have the added benefit of greatly increased roll-over protection!
Reijo
Re: Protecting your cat. converter
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 11:36 pm
by Craig Naylor
Reijo Silvennoinen wrote:Slam it!
Best idea by far!!!
Re: Protecting your cat. converter
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 4:22 am
by Steve Ekstrand
Do any of the 4wd accessory places have a skid plate type thing for the exhaust cat?
Re: Protecting your cat. converter
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 7:28 am
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.
Re: Protecting your cat. converter
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 7:47 am
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".
Re: Protecting your cat. converter
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 7:49 am
by Bob Beamesderfer
I hear about more 4Runners and Toyota pickups falling prey to cat thieves than any other vehicle.
Re: Protecting your cat. converter
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 8:11 am
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.
Re: Protecting your cat. converter
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 8:12 am
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.