[mike67]

I guess it's a very popular theft lately. I got in my truck to go to work, turn the key, and it sounds like a helicopter. They got under there and unbolted it, and off they went. It's a pretty easy job, only four bolts, and they were out of there. BTW the cops told me they are targeting Toyota trucks (easy to get under there). It happened to one of my friends last month too, but they cut hers out and ruined the whole exhust system. The cops told me that they picked up a guy about a week ago with 70 of them. Of course they are valuable for passing smog tests, but they also have some kind of recycle value.

Just a heads up!

 

[eaterofdog]

MMM... platinum.

 

[Crashby]

 

[mike67]

lol...that's exactly what I was thinkin

 

[dirtydirtysouf]

I guess it's a very popular theft lately. I got in my truck to go to work, turn the key, and it sounds like a helicopter. They got under there and unbolted it, and off they went. It's a pretty easy job, only four bolts, and they were out of there. BTW the cops told me they are targeting Toyota trucks (easy to get under there). It happened to one of my friends last month too, but they cut hers out and ruined the whole exhust system. The cops told me that they picked up a guy about a week ago with 70 of them. Of course they are valuable for passing smog tests, but they also have some kind of recycle value.

Just a heads up!

crap that was your truck......sorry man.....im trying to make bike money

 

[mike67]

Did some digging, and here's what they are after -

Contents of a catalytic converter and value:
-Palladium: $342.00/ounce
-Platinum: $1168.00/ounce
-Rhodium: $5800.00/ounce
I found this info on a toyota board - it's a serious problem in SoCal right now, and it looks like it found it's way north too.

I don't know exactly how much of these materials are inside one cat, but obviously this is why they are grabbin them up.

I use to work in an auto shop, and if I remember correctly, you do not want to open one of these things up - extremely toxic stuff comes out.

 

[Big_Papa1080]

I use to work in an auto shop, and if I remember correctly, you do not want to open one of these things up - extremely toxic stuff comes out.

ah nothing like toxic chemicals on a part that is supposed to reduce pollution...

 

[Toshi]

ah nothing like toxic chemicals on a part that is supposed to reduce pollution...

better that the toxins be converted into something slightly less toxic through the reaction catalyzed in the catalytic converter than to be released part and parcel.

 

[reflux]

Oh snap, I drive a '92 Pickup. Where abouts in CA are you? I'm in Orange County.

 

[mike67]

Oh snap, I drive a '92 Pickup. Where abouts in CA are you? I'm in Orange County.

Sacramento -
They got my friends 4 runner there too

 

[BigMike]

Damn, that sucks. Seems like a random part to steal, but I guess if they are going for a high price....

 

[trailhacker]

Search your local craigslist for "catalytic" or something similar.
Localy there is always a few competing ads from guys offering to buy used cats.
I remember a few years ago when parting out a car that when it came time to call the scrapper to pick up the hulk you had to hide the cat so they didn't see it or they wouldn't take it.
Parted out a few Chevy trucks over the past year or so and ended up selling one cat for $80, the other for about $100.

 

[llkoolkeg]

Why not just replace the standard hex or screw head bolts with unusual ones from the Torx bit selection ala rim puzzle locks? It is not an easy thing at all to cut an exhaust component from a car because of clearance issues unless you have a torch.

 

[Knuckleslammer]

Why not coat it with smallpox virus?

 

[reflux]

Sacramento -
They got my friends 4 runner there too

Damn. I'm sorry for the theft, but hopefully they'll stay away from your neighborhood from now that they've hit it once.

 

[mike67]

There is a local shop that has been doing spot welds on the cats so they can't be unbolted. The problem is that they will cut them out if that's what it takes. So I've decided to just leave the simple bolts on, and start using my alarm. When they got my friends 4 runner they cut it out with some kind of battery operated saw or grinding disc. They cut it out behind the flange where it's suposed to bolt up on both sides. She had to replace the whole exhust system. BTW they did her truck while she was parked at work, in the daylight.

I think I like the smallpox idea...

 

[Spero]

You could chain one of these suckers under the car...

I accidentally killed one that was hanging out under the hood a couple of years back...it got wound up in the fan. I've never heard a more disturbing sound in my life and when I popped the hood, all hell broke loose. In a confined space, I'd soil myself at the sight.