Safest way to remove exhaust/catalytic converter from wrecked Prius?

I guess you're out in California or something I can't imagine

 

Yeah, the safety stands should be on squares of plywood. And before getting under, push some timbers or whatever under, something thicker than you.

Work smart.

 

What are those jack stands placed under? That doesn't look like a pinch weld. It looks like the pinch weld is folded over flat where that bunch of grass is stuck in at the front of the door. There is all sorts of metal on the bottom of the car which is not rated to bear the weight of the vehicle when a jack stand is placed beneath it.

Put a 3' x 3' (or so) piece of 3/4" or thicker plywood on the ground under the motor (more or less). Can you get a floor jack in there and use the standard lift point? If so then you could poke the two jack stands into place under some major part of the suspension with a 2x4. (Definitely not with an arm!)

The safety wood can go in at an angle, so long as it is under a solid part of the suspension. You want the angle so that it doesn't pass under the front of the cat, right?

You know, the more I look at this car the less I would want to be under it. You sure you cannot pull it over with a rope and the rental vehicle? Perhaps trench a bit next to the side in the direction of the pull first, so that if/when the car starts to slide it will fall into the trench and then "trip" to aid in rolling it. Not just up onto its side, all the way over. Pretty sure it isn't going to roll back if it has all 4 tires pointing straight up. Of course this assumes you can get a tow truck driver willing to haul it away from that position!

Also, stick a mirror under there and confirm that the cat wasn't trashed in the accident. Silly to go through all of this only to find that it has a big gash torn in it.

 

From the zip code it looks like Columbus Ohio, although I would have bet California too.
Maybe they were either wimps or figured he wouldn’t pay them after they rolled it.

 

If you can't lift the car, then move the earth. Leave the car exactly as-is, grab a shovel and dig a 3 ft wide/1-2 ft deep trench underneath it. Similar to what they have in many work bays, just not as deep. That should be safe.
It's an option that's no more crazy than the other stuff being thrown around.

 

Put a 4x4 post through the back windows right there next to the center post Cock it up against the top post on the side you're going to put the rope on hold it taught with your hand the 4x4 up against the top post have the guy in the truck pull on the rope until that post will stay up against the top post and against the top of the door where the window goes down on the other side then get out of the way and allow the truck to gently roll forward pulling on that 4x4 and the 4x4 post will roll that car right over like it owns it You've added a few feet of post sticking out the door now that gives you ample material to pull on You could even take another 4x4 say at 12 footer or a 2x6 on its side and stick it under part of the car and be lifting up on it while the guys pulling just to be assing around if you want. I mean it's okay for safety to rule the roost but my goodness when we were kids this would have been child's play my mom would have been looking out the window going Jesus what are they doing now

 

Geez take a pic if you can. Watch this video. Remove 2 bolts at front and 2 bolts at the rear.

 

This video is helpful if you want to cut it after the converter. Have to watch on Youtube.