Beware of Catalytic Converter Thefts

[MossRoad]

No car transmission that I've seen less <7.5" tall. You must have jacked it up.

Not that I recall. I had to drag it back towards the rear of the car to clear the front frame members, then dragged it out from under the car. I didn’t own jackstands or ramps back then. Maybe I dug a trench in the gravel. It’s been a long time.

 

[MossRoad]

Not that I recall. I had to drag it back towards the rear of the car to clear the front frame members, then dragged it out from under the car. I didn’t own jackstands or ramps back then. Maybe I dug a trench in the gravel. It’s been a long time.

Thinking about it, I did it in my dad’s carport. Cement floor.

 

[Oaktree]

I put aftermarket cats, which have no expensive stuff in them, on the truck I bought.
I'm thinking of putting a sticker on the fenders saying
"Aftermarket Catalytic Converters.
No rare metals inside - no value"

Unfortunately, many of those cheapie aftermarket cats don't work very well. A mechanic friend said he's had to replace quite a few that DIY'ers put in because less than a year later check engine light again.
Can't afford to do it right, so you get to do it twice.

 

[BravoXray]

No car transmission that I've seen less <7.5" tall. You must have jacked it up.

I can attest to that. I had the Muncie transmission out of my '69 L78 Nova at least a dozen times while I had it. It's at least 10" tall any way you turn it, I just measured the one out of my '70 Nova in the shop.
The Saginaw 3 speeds are virtually the same case, just shorter.

 

[MossRoad]

I can attest to that. I had the Muncie transmission out of my '69 L78 Nova at least a dozen times while I had it. It's at least 10" tall any way you turn it, I just measured the one out of my '70 Nova in the shop.
The Saginaw 3 speeds are virtually the same case, just shorter.

Hmmm. Wonder how I got it out of there? Memory is a horrible thing to lose.

 

[Yogi05]

Unfortunately, many of those cheapie aftermarket cats don't work very well. A mechanic friend said he's had to replace quite a few that DIY'ers put in because less than a year later check engine light again.
Can't afford to do it right, so you get to do it twice.

That's the risk I take with aftermarket stuff.
A factory pipe with cats would be more than the truck was worth.
When I nought it there was a used factory pipe in the bed that the guy said was supposed to fit.
It didn't.
Pay your money, take your chances I guess.

 

[5030]

I'm sure glad we have no emissions testing around here. Considering how many mufflers and converters wind up in the ditches around here, I suspect not many would pass the 'sniff' test.

 

[Yogi05]

I'm sure glad we have no emissions testing around here. Considering how many mufflers and converters wind up in the ditches around here, I suspect not many would pass the 'sniff' test.

No emission testing here either, but cats are kind of necessary if you want it to run right.
Or at least work without a check engine light on all the time.
Without the O2 sensors your mileage could go either way. Gas is what? $5/gal there?

 

[Eagle1]

If you only have O2 sensors BEFORE the cat and none after it does not affect anything. Older vehicles often are set up like that.

 

[5030]

No emission testing here either, but cats are kind of necessary if you want it to run right.
Or at least work without a check engine light on all the time.
Without the O2 sensors your mileage could go either way. Gas is what? $5/gal there?

$5.44 USD yesterday.

 

[Yogi05]

$5.44 USD yesterday.

Converted CDN price to US is $7.60/gal for the last month.
Came down in Ontario a little over the weekend to $6.90/US gal.

 

[5030]

I've just installed locking fuel caps on everything. My wife said what for and I replied that your Burb is a prime target sitting in a parking lot for a siphon job. Hopefully the perp don't puncture the tank, that would be expensive to replace.

 

[5030]

Converted CDN price to US is $7.60/gal for the last month.
Came down in Ontario a little over the weekend to $6.90/US gal.

By the liter up there, correct?

 

[ptsg]

I've just installed locking fuel caps on everything. My wife said what for and I replied that your Burb is a prime target sitting in a parking lot for a siphon job. Hopefully the perp don't puncture the tank, that would be expensive to replace.

Living on a country where fuel theft is a daily occurrence, I'll say right away, nothing will stop them. If it's locked, they will drill the tank,get it that way and cause you a lot more expense.

If you happen to leave a piece of equipment anywhere, the next day you'll find an empty fuel tank. If you left the tank empty, you'll find the engine and hydraulic tank full of dirt, rock, trash, etc. All of that if they don't decide to steal batteries, starters, alternators, hydraulic valves, etc.

On truck stops, it's a complete mess all over Europe with thieves stealing fuel when the driver is resting.

 

[Yogi05]

By the liter up there, correct?

Yup.
Was $2.03/L for a month or so but Provincial government reduced the tax a little so we're down to $1.83/L or so.
FYI, roughly 4.5L to a gallon

 

[Quebecguy]

Yup.
Was $2.03/L for a month or so but Provincial government reduced the tax a little so we're down to $1.83/L or so.
FYI, roughly 4.5L to a gallon

That is 4.5 litres to an Imperial gallon. To a U.S. gallon it is more like 4 litres.

 

[notaz3]

We installed "Cat Shield" on the Prius because my wife works in a hospital where there has been 6 catalytic converters stolen in less than two months.

Until the rules for scrapping catalytic converters changes or we change the EPA requirements for them theft will continue. We know there won't be any changes in punishing the offenders.

Locking fuel caps can be a bad idea. Newer tanks are plastic and thieves will simply stab a screwdriver through it and drain fuel into bucket.

 

[PILOON]

At least with a plastic tank U can use a sheet metal screw and leather or rubber and plug the leak hole.
Kind of difficult to weld a patch on metal tanks however.

 

[ultrarunner]

Hospitals are prime targets because many have other things on their mind and may be totally unfamiliar with the area...

We had an entire family with little kids and momma in a folding chair while dad was changing a tire...

Well, what they actually did was swap out all 4 tires/rims with the Toyota next to them...

Several even asked if they needed help or the auto club...

Friendly as can be $2,000 theft in tires and rims and left crappy rusty steel rims and bald tires... missing lug nuts.

The employee owner shift over and got in car put in reverse and rim fell off...

 

[grsthegreat]

Ha… sounds like christmas vacation……