Catalytic Converter Anti-Theft Measure

My neighbor said he would weld the bolts on my sons 2004 to prevent the CC's from being unbolted and stolen. Is this a good idea? Is there any reason not to do this? Thanks

 

Battery powered sawzall is the typical tool carried.

Welding the bolts won't help.

 

That would be a REAL stretch in most states.

 

The typical method of theft is with a sawzall? Not unbolting?

 

Its how they got mine. Aholio's also sawed off the pass front mudflap,,so they could work easier. How nice,,thanks!

They didnt touch the O2 sensors,,just sawed carefully so they were still in place. Test pipe to the rescue, and pulled the led "check engine" light in the dash.

About a week later security chased a dude out of the covered garage of a local hospital. Guy jumped into the cab of a open bed pickup,,,loaded in the back with cat converters stacked high.

 

Recyclers shouldn't be allowed to accept more than one or two at a time from the same person.

 

I took mine off so they cant steal em.

 

You could weld some rebar down the length of the pipe but that's not gonna stop them.

 

SoCal, you and I are both in CA. How do you pass smog?

Skid plate doesn't sound like a bad idea.

I've only noticed one skid plate picture while reading these disheartening threads. There must be more. Anyone have a link to a build description for bolt locations etc?

 

I have a 2012 so I dont need a smog for another 5 years. Plus...I can put them back on when needed.

 

Oh no,,muny muny muny!,, when they see those loads come in. Toy cats use a higher concentration of palladium. Very rare metal. One of the reasons toyota's can pass emissions considerably longer than the rest,,and also why my Ins check was $800 for just the cat on a 99. Kinda gives you a idea as to why the meth heads want those.

 

What happens to performance and sound, if anything at all if I remove the cats?

Also the 04 has two. Is there a difference between the front and rear cats?

Do they steal both or just one? Which one?

Thanks for the good responses guys.

 

Weld it, the average low life thief is not carrying a sawsall or anything else powered. Their ally is stealth, if they want to make all that noise in your driveway, let them. just be ready when you confront them.

 

I like the skid plate, but son has faith in welding option. Hope he doesn't learn the hard way. If he ends up in San Diego for his job I say all bets are off on the cat and more likely the whole truck is the target. I also really like the illegal option of removing the cats between smog inspections if that's not a performance don't.

 

I'm thinking if you could find a way to isolate the pipe from before the cat (like install a rubber spacer that won't melt or something) then you could apply a 12v lead to charge your entire pipe and cats. Then when dumb ass goes to take it off, ZAP! Then just cuz he's an idiot he will probably go grab it again and ZAP! and if you wanna make it better you can install a small capacitor that will discharge instantly so the shock will be a hell of a lot worse than just a 12v zap.

Hmmm, back to the drawing board

 

Just hope the perp isn't wearing good gloves

 

ProForce, I do like the idea of instant punishment for the bad guys. If I go the shock route I'm going to have to add a second battery just for a solid jolt, but just did that for my boat and don't want another battery project.

 

I have never once heard of a cat being stolen by unbolting it. Always some type of saw used. A half decent sawzall with a good blade cuts through quick. It's also normally done in say a parking lot, not usually in someone's driveway where a confrontation can happen because the owner hears the noise.

Junk yards should at least require I.D. of some type. Some do around here, depending on what you bring in. But unfortunately most don't care, cause they want the money too.

 

There was a rash of some people rolling up on dealerships and stealing tacoma and tundra cats with a cordless impact and a 14mm.. But that was a planned sort of thing. Then there was a business advertised on CL for Toyota cats...... Didn't last long before the cops caught on LOL

 

I'll ask our local dealers and muffler shops what the number one way of stealing is in our area. I hope that's true about parking lots vs homes.

As for regulations for junkyards, thieves will just find the dishonest businessman and skip the honest ones.