Suggestions for better Cat protection shields and skids?

I worry that the cat shield i have might not be enough, and would like to add a few more steps/protections that will make theft rings move onto another vehicle, yet still allow maintenance.

Ideas?

also, wondering what skids or other ready made protection will fit in front of or rear of the iller cat shield.

Right now, I have the miller cat heavier gauge stainless steel shield installed, but it does not fully cover at least one of the cats, and it could be unfastened if a cst theft ring just buys one to get the security bit. It needs to be removed sometimes for certain maintenance, otherwise it would cover the bolts/screws with epoxy or something, but that seems like a bad idea.

 

My RCI transmission skid has the catalytic converter guards bolted to sides (but must remove the skid to remove the 10 bolts). All bolts can be removed with standard wrenches, assuming they want to remove the 4 bolts, then drop the skid to the ground (2 people minimum to prevent a loud clang). Must be removed to service the transmission. And only covers front 2 converters, not the thrid one in the back.

You can weld fasteners to the frame to make it take longer, but makes it harder for you to remove.

If they want your CATs, they will get them somehow. Just make it harder to remove and make them move on.

 

Is there a rear cat still fully exposed ? I need to look at a diagram and find it… is there a skid plate set that would cover it?


So the only other ideas i have are adding another layer of plate with another set of bolts. I have some perforated steel sheet metal in a medium heavy gauge, left over from a fence, but cutting and shaping might be difficult and take too long

other ideas are - get exhaust/muffler shop to swap for Federally compliant cats, and keep the oem 50 state/California compliant cats indoors to reinstall years later, but i would rather not, if i can find a better way to keep them safe.

 

I have 3.5 L. Maybe you have 2.7 and no third converter.

I do not protect that third one, but probably not worth the theft due to platinum content ... or some other reason.

Again ... you cannot stop them, just make them spend that one (1) easy minute on another vehicle.

 

Put the money into an alarm. Or keep some rubber dog poo in the truck and stick it under the cat shield when you lock the truck. Or just poop under your truck when you get out each time. Get it down to a cycle.

Seriously. The cat shields are going to make a lot of thieves move on to the one that is less work, so your next step is making it even stinkier or noisier.

This one looks gritty and excellent:
Forum Novelties Fake Chunky Dog Doo

$10 Forum Novelties Fake Chunky Dog Doo

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003CO52BI

 

I think you're fine with just leaving the miller. The drug addicts will look and see it and then move on.

 

This is it.

They're equipped with an electric saw and gloves and plan on being under the truck for a minute, tops. The moment they see any signs of shields they are moving on to the next target. Security bolts just make it a hassle for you the next time you're trying to service anything down there.

 

Ever cut an exhaust pipe with a sawzall? There's no way to avoid loud noises. They rely on speed, so the extra two minutes or so to defeat a cat guard should be enough of a deterrent.

Now try to protect your truck against vehicle theft rings that use tow trucks

 

Sell your truck or cut the cats out yourself. You’ve already done what you can reasonably do to prevent theft.

 

ahhh, this is a great throw back to the med mat thefts,,,, that never happened.
See sig.

 

What were the med mat thefts? I clicked your profile expecting a link, but turned up nothing. Jeeves says did i mean “meat”, and first result was something in West Virginia about medications, but no obvious explanation, or fitting and plausibly correct summary.

 

I would hope so, but one mechanic i know seemed to think the shields were near worthless.

A previous vehicle’s catalytic got stolen, parts are generally not available, and it’s more about the inconvenience and stress of worrying about it/irrationally high level of concern than if it had never happened.
I just want something there to make me confident that i won’t come to a parking lot having to deal with a new comprehensive claim or getting shot at. It’s a what I wish i could do fantasy to pull faster and be accurate enough to take them out before they can get a shot off, but i think that only works in shows and movies.

 

I actually have looked into swapping for Federally compliant cats, and bringing the oems indoors to save in case i need to reinstall years later. My

i suspect this reply was meant mostly as a joke, but i had been considering actually seriously leaving the fake dog poo thing under the truck in addition to other countermeasures.

Maybe i could rig something with fishing line to ease retrieval and placement.

 

Haha typo! Sorry,,, “bed mats”