BEWARE! Gen 3 catalytic converters are as easy to steal and Gen 2's.

I made a ramp so I can roll the floor jack up onto the riser. Almost threw out my back lifting the jack when I was test fitting it on the riser.

I also decided to take a minimalist approach for the platform, there's only 4x4 blocks under the wheels of the jack instead of the whole platform being solid wood (heavy)!

Just have to fasten everything down and add some wheel stops and side rails so the jack can't roll off the riser.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Pyramid builders in your ancestry? (Rhetorical )

 

Finally installed the cat shields today. I didn't use the ramp I built in the end.

I was able to get 16 inches of clearance below the frame rails. It was still a tight fit working under the car, and getting enough leverage on the rivet tool and drill to bore the necessary extra holes was very difficult.

I couldn't get enough leverage on the rivet tool on stainless steel 1/4 inch rivets, so I ended up using the included all aluminum rivets.

It's so uncomfortable working under the car, I'm hoping that any thieves don't want to spend time drilling out the rivets to remove my stainless steel mesh reinforced cat shields.

Sorry for the backwards pictures, I used the selfie mode on the front camera, so the pictures are mirror images.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I know folks are trying to prevent theft, but a jerk with a cordless Metabo wheel ... wouldn't even take a minute to get through those pieces of sheet metal.

for that matter, a skill saw would do it, and sound like regular old construction to anyone that noticed.

it might be money well spent to use an after market cat that is much much cheaper, and sell your high dollar oem for profit.

 

on my way now to cut off my oem cat to sell off and replacing it with a aftermarket to come out ahead. The aftermarket cat would deter theifs and I get a new bottle of wine, win win!

 

For those who have installed cat shields, warning stickers or no stickers on the windows?

For home security systems, there's two schools of thought on yard signs and window stickers. Warn thieves away, or advertise the type of security system you have, so that they know it's weaknesses and make it easier to steal from you.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

No stickers on mine.

I'll let the surprise be evident when they put forth effort.

It should elicit the "move along this won't be easy" response.

 

Just saw this OfferUp listing in Honolulu, someone's selling steel bolt on cat shields from $450 and up.

I'd say, with the wording on the shield's, I would think that you'd end up with at least a heavily keyed car, or a smashed window.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

cool. are you replacing a gen 3 cat ?

I'm not finding much info about 3rd generation aftermarket replacements. as soon as I do, I'll remove my OEM and replace it, pocketing the difference

 

$20 worth of steel sheet and $10 worth of plasma cutter time = $450 "kit"

and you still gotta pay a welder ($$$$) to dab it into place

 

Tried something today. Will see how it holds up, invite opinions. Got very solid once I torqued all the nuts. If I’m happy with it I’ll maybe heat up the accessible nuts and wick solder into them.

 

I love your Chain method, doesn't it Rattle?

 

It's pain in the A$$ that Cali Smog Check require to check the CAT, if we Rivet the CAT Shield, it needs to un-Rivet the nut every 2yrs prior Smog Check

 

Don’t know yet; haven’t driven. It was slightly loose at first, but once I torqued the 3 bolts at the surface it tightened up solid. I’ll watch for that and update.

 

Do you speak from personal experience? Before riveting the sheild to my Prius a few months ago, I talked to a smog check station owner, and he informed me of no need taking the shield off if the catalytic converter is the original. My smog check is a few months away, and I hope I don't need to take the shield off.

 

I smogged my Gen 2 late last year with the cat shield installed. No issues whatsoever. My 2015 is still a year away from requiring a smog check. Both cars have the cat shields riveted...

 

Honestly, the only question I have is do the aftermarket cats work well for these cars? They were always hot garbage when they came with the exhaust kits for mustangs (long tube headers etc...) you might get a year or two and then the internals would collapse and plug (around 10 years ago). If only these cars were as easy to flash as domestic cars then we could just do cat deletes and move on lol.

 

That's apparently a bad idea, solder doesn't really bond to steel that well. Permatex Red thread-lock (the "permanent" stuff) on order. I'll hold off till after it's had a drive or two, listen for rattles.

* Permatex Red thread-lock can be loosened, with heat.

 

The chain is a pretty good idea, you could always just do a quick tack weld on the last nut/bolt? Though I guess not everyone has a welder laying around...