1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Why installing a catalytic converter anti-theft shield is worth it

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Georgina Rudkus, Jun 26, 2020.

  1. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,096
    2,163
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    someone just reported a stolen cat in ct. what happens in cali always reaches the east coast eventually...
     
    PriusHead05 likes this.
  3. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2018
    607
    278
    0
    Location:
    W. Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    ScottHz, offib, wasambi and 2 others like this.
  4. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2020
    1,639
    766
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    How about moving to an area where you dont have to worry about thiefs taking your cats. Your insurance rates will go down living in an area with less crime too.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    PriusHead05 likes this.
  5. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,096
    2,163
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Where? On the Moon; on Mars?

    As long as there are humans; there will be thieves.
     
    mikee1680 and JarrettOriginal like this.
  6. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    With no other human around you do not need to worry about a job either. How to love without a job could provide a new puzzle to solve though.
     
  7. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,096
    2,163
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Miller CAT Gen 3 installed.jpg
     
    Miller CAT likes this.
  8. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2020
    1,639
    766
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Good thing there has never been any humans on the moon or mars huh.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    What rivet gun did you use, in particular how long? Car doesn't look to be extremely high, looks doable. (y)

    Tires about 2" (at most) clear?
     
  10. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,096
    2,163
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    vht painted side view.JPG


    The front of the car was placed on Rennstand jack stands.
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Front is a little higher then, I think?

    Hah, had that one in my "cart". Seemed better quality, and versatile, with 13" length. $48 CDN up here. :cry:
     
  12. GenxPri

    GenxPri New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2020
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Has anyone in California passed smog inspection with the Miller shield in place? How would the shield be removed and reinstalled if need be, without destroying rivets and purchasing new ones?
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Supposedly the Cat ID numbers can be read without removing the shield. The shield manufacturers have thought of this, or the product would not be viable. I have seen one install video where the guy determines some Cat ID is viewable through the shield, though it's not easy.

    AFAIK the pop rivets can only be destroyed, fresh ones used.
     
    Georgina Rudkus likes this.
  14. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,096
    2,163
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    If I had to do it over again, I'd use stainless steel rivets.

    I"d replaced all of the aluminum rivets with stainless steel ones backed with stainless steel fender washers. My experience is that stainless steel rivets are really difficult to drill out. The bit will not readily into them and just spins the rivet in the hole. This is because the friction between the rivet and the rivet hole is not enough to keep it from spinning. The edge of the thin rivet must be difficultly and tediously held with pliers to keep it from spinning while being drilled. Ideally it would be easier held at the other end if accessible, but not in the case of this install. The washers under the rivet head also increases the likelihood of the rivet spinning when drilled.

    Ultimately, the only real way to remove them would be to grind off the rivet heads. That is obviously tedious and time consuming.

    Stainless steel rivets is the way to go, if you really want security.

    In commercial applications, a 1/4 inch air hydraulic riveter is recommended for efficiency..

    Except for costs, why the professional installers would not install this plate system with stainless steel instead of easily drill out aluminum rivets is hard to understand..
     
  15. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
    1,945
    1,785
    0
    Location:
    Southern MN
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    II
    Huh..so these are installed with rivets?

    Edit : I get it now..the 'rivet nuts' are installed with the rivet gun so you have a point to screw the bolts into. (y)

    Watched the video...Ugh..yeah..on a Gen3 the fact the coolant line into the exhaust apparatus exists isn't good. :( Maybe I should install one of these on our Gen3. My daughter has had it up in Minneapolis lately...and has to park on the street.

    So..Miller CatShield...order here..right? Cat Shield — MILLERCAT - CARB Converters
     
  16. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,668
    6,483
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Correct....but thieves are motivated by profit, generally speaking.

    If you have a G2 (and...soon a G3) Prius, and you live in the DPRC, then you NEED to take proactive measures against cat theft.
    Period.
    Full stop.

    Market price for a stolen cat in zip codes beginning in '90' is about $250.
    You can zap one off of a car in about 15 minutes.
    THAT's a living wage......even in SOCAL.

    A few dollars worth of bar stock strategically applied, or a few hundred dollars in some pre-manned aluminum shield (as long as it does not prevent a SMOG check**) can prevent a $2,000 repair bill.

    So....
    As long as the measures are not prohibitively expensive, do not prevent the oppressive government from verifying that you have an OEM cat installed(**), OR cause some other problem....then you're fine.

    DO...YOU.
    (Everybody else is already taken)

    Live where you want to live
    .
    Install a cat shield or some other mitigation....and sleep a little better at night, especially if you're one of those poor souls that have to park your car on the street.
    It does not need to get ANY more complicated or political than that.
    Catalytic converter theft, like many other things in life, can be analyzed statistically, or politically.

    YMMV.





    (**) I'm curious. Why not install an aftermarket cat for $200 and some gee-wizz aluminum cat-shield for $200 and save $1600?? :D
     
  17. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,096
    2,163
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
  18. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,096
    2,163
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Only problem is that the Torx T27 security hex bolt is widely available on Amazon, eBay and even Harbor Freight.

    Even after I filled the heads with JB Weld, I am well aware that they can be removed, again, with damaged screw head extractors and a widely available battery powered drill.

    Using 1/4 inch stainless steel rivets, the four OEM heat shield mounting holes will fit without the need to be enlarged and only two 1/4 inch holes need to be drilled for the two rear mounting holes.

    In a commercial install with an air hydraulic riveter, it's no more than twenty minutes on the lift.
     
    #18 Georgina Rudkus, Jul 14, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2020
    farmecologist likes this.
  19. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
    1,945
    1,785
    0
    Location:
    Southern MN
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    II

    Yeah..but isn't that overkill? When I hear about when these guys steal cats, it is usually a quick 'jack and grab'. If they see the shield, it seems to me that they wouldn't want to take the time to deal with it ( i.e. - it would take too long )?
     
    mpswirl and Georgina Rudkus like this.
  20. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,096
    2,163
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Maybe overkill but the stainless rivet method takes at least 1/3 the time as the Miller CAT method. It is cheaper, quicker, easier and more secure.

    There is no need to remove the oxygen sensor bracket and carefully enlarge the holes. There is no need to insert and set the rivet nuts. There is no need to align and install the screws. Instead of sorting and installing the two rear screws with spacers, that provide a space for a pry bar between the plate and frame, the plate can be riveted flush. The spacer are meant to increase the clearance of the plate and the converter which is about 1/4 inch. My solution was to grab the edge of the plate and just pull down on it. It bent slightly and resulted an increase in clearance to over a half an inch.

    Additionally an anti-clockwise damage screw head driver would just spin the rivets and would not allow them to be easily removed.
     
    #20 Georgina Rudkus, Jul 14, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2020
    farmecologist and Prodigyplace like this.