FEELER: Would you buy a theft deterrent for your Tacoma's catalytic converter?

Hey guys,

I've built up a good relationship with a reputable muffler/service shop in my area and I've come to him with an ongoing problem: stolen cats in Tacomas.

Hearing that my friend had his cat stolen in BROAD DAYLIGHT a few weeks ago, I decided to take proper measures to make sure the cat on my truck is a SOB to try steal if someone were to attempt such a thing. According to the police officer, my friend's case was the 5th reported stolen cat within a span of 2 weeks---only Tacomas & 4Runners targeted.

At first, I presented this to my exhaust guy as something he would engineer for just my truck, but he came to me with an honest question, "How much would you guys be willing to pay for something like this?"

My muffler shop is Dean's Muffler & Performance in Grover Beach, CA. The owner/fabricator/mechanic is Jason Montgomery. One man shop, he kicks ass and takes names all day. Amazing work: http://www.deansmuffler.com/

I snapped a few pictures of my cat on my 95.5 Tacoma v6 and e-mailed them to Jason a few weeks ago and he's slowly been trying to develop something, on his OFF TIME, that would deter someone from trying to steal it.

He hasnt shown me any pictures or anything as of yet because I think he's going to use my truck as a guinea pig whenever we can coordinate our schedules for my truck to be at the shop.

The description of the deterrent according to an email from Jason:

"I have a good plan together for this, the problem is going to be out of pocket cost for me to get started.

Can you tell me what you think a mod like this would be worth to you guys?

I need some idea if I can recoup my money or not.

Keep in mind that:

This mod will make it theft resistant not theft proof! Same difference as fire resistant verses fire proof.

If the crook has time and equipment on their side they will be able to still rip if off. This mod will not stop a well equipped muffler shop from replacing the cat if ever needed, but will add an additional labor cost of anywhere from 1/2 hr to 45 minuets. The idea here is to make the common tools such as wrenches, sockets, cordless impacts and sawzall's completely ineffective means of removal. It will of course still be vulnerable to torches, plasma cutters and high speed abrasive cut off tools. Fortunately the crooks are not using these things due to the cost, noise and the facility requirements to run this type of equipment.

Let me know what you think....."


I haven't been a member here for that long, but I'm always looking for ways to help out the masses if possible.

I will update this post with pictures once my truck has been test fitted.

Input please!

Thanks again,
Matt

 

i know alot of them are cut off. all it takes is 10 seconds with a sawzall and done, loud, but if you have a look out your golden, if they are good they only need 10 seconds after they start cutting.

so if this wont stop people from cutting, i dont think it will sell

 

I totally think it would be worth it. Assholes that steal these usually get about $40 bucks (or so I was told by a police officer) at a metal recycling place. My brother had his stolen off of his '02 tacoma a few months back during the early morning. He was going to have his camper shell repainted, but then he had to pay the $800 deductible to get it replaced!!! I've been looking into getting something done to secure mine on my '08... would love to see how your buddy is going to do it, and I'm sure a lot of people on here would be willing to get something to prevent this theft.

 

Google Cat Clamp.

You might be paying to re-engineer something that already exists.

 

Yep...I have a deterrent...skid plates. You can't get close to mine even if you tried.

 

I have fired this his way in my email reply, but I think his objective is to do the same, but at a better price point. We shall see what he comes up with! I'm kinda curious...


Matt

 

Good luck to you, I'd jump on a prevetion kit if I lived in a high risk area. That's an expensive headache I wouldn't want to deal with!

 

Funny you mentioned this...my buddy had a set of Skid Row's(all three, including rear T-case) and they attempted to steal his cat, but failed. HOWEVER, they instead took ALL 3 skid plates and left him with a halfway sawed through exhaust pipe.

These a-holes take anything they can get I swear.

 

Thanks man! 100% agree. My buddy has opted to run catless until he can bank up EXTRA cash for a new cat. He's waiting on what my friend comes up with before he dives in and buys a new converter.

 

How'd they get the skids off? If they were unbolted, threadlocker red would fix that problem.

 

I saw you're in CA, for other states, Doug Thorley headers and a new Y-pipe would eliminate the threat of having your cats stolen

 

so if i was under my truck and a bolt has red thread locker on it i couldnt get it off?

 

NO CLUE. Not cleanly thats for sure. All the bolt holes were completely useless after they were done. I wonder what they got for all that 3/16 guage steel...

 

Oh you mean like this? http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/208274-doug-thorley-headers-installed-95-5-v6.html

Kudos to the thief brave enough to pray I'm asleep for the 6 hours it'll take to yank them off my Taco. LOL

 

It's much more difficult. Thread locker blue can be taken off with some elbow grease.

Thread locker red you'd probably strip the bolt head before you got it off or snap the head depending on the strength of the bolt. thread locker red cab ne undone with some heat though or by drilling the head of the bolt out. Red is good because you could still get your skids off if you needed to, just take you a few minutes and probably a torch to do so. A thief could always get your skids either by drilling the bolt head or snapping the bolt head (a counter sunk torx head bolt might help deter the latter).

Thread locker green is even stronger and basically, if you use that, don't plan on ever getting the bolt out.

 

hmm... i need to get myself some of that.. thanks

 

Any auto parts store should have it and most hardware stores would probably have it. If you use red, don't try to muscle the bolt out, it might not end well. It'll take some heat to get back out!

Thread locker blue can be undone with a breaker bar if the bolt is strong enough.

But yeah, thread locker is great stuff

 

hahahaha that sucks. I pity the fool who goes through all the work trying to remove my bent skids for $40 that isn't even there

this

I can with no issues. Had mine off and on more then a couple times with zero issues.

that's why I would only buy skids with at least 9/16" grade 8 bolts. Anything else is inferior for what I wanted "IMO".