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Miller Cat Protector

Discussion in 'Prime Accessories and Modifications' started by chickenhawk, Apr 2, 2021.

  1. chickenhawk

    chickenhawk Member

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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are they stealing prime cats too now?
     
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  3. chickenhawk

    chickenhawk Member

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    nope they are not stealing Primes but I'm not gonna give them a reason to :D
     
  4. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Humm, since thieves can't see the protector until they already raised the car and are under the car. Wouldn't they try to cut it anyway? Then how hard is it to cut the stainless steel plate if they can cut the exhaust pipe in such a short time? Unless it takes substantially longer to cut the plate, it may not be much of a deterrent.
     
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  5. pghyndman

    pghyndman Active Member

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    My stainless steel Miller CatShield arrived yesterday... when the weather clears here I'll pop it on. The kit includes a TS27 security bit.

    Use 10% off promo code: PRIUSOFFROAD10.
     
  6. chickenhawk

    chickenhawk Member

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    maybe hook that PLATE UP TO THE INVERTER BATTERY :whistle::LOL:
     
  7. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    Only the rear cat can readily be stolen on Gen 4's. The front cat and egr cooler pipe is part of the exhaust manifold. 86d38e966e3e6e6b93445dcf4df8069c.png 9fd0079df4c4cdfe255e2617ee79851a.png


    You'd also need where to cut out the second cat to prevent coolant from leaking out of the preheater coolant lines,

    Prius Gen 4 exhaust.jpg
     
    #7 Georgina Rudkus, Apr 2, 2021
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2021
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  8. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    An easy way to add extra security to those security Torx screws is to fill the heads with putty, caulk, drywall compound or some other soft sealant material.

    To remove them, even if the thief had the correct security bit, the filler would have to be tediously dug out carefully with a very small flat blade screwdriver, before the screw could be removed.
     
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  9. chickenhawk

    chickenhawk Member

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    Don't think they would bother..just die grind it off.. wonder what material are the bolts. .. this is just to slow them down.
     
  10. chickenhawk

    chickenhawk Member

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  11. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    A2 grade 304 stainless steel. They would have to have thought to bring a battery powered angle grinder. The rear accessible to theft catalytic converter won't have as much precious metal as the front one.

    Only a rank amateur would want to go to that much trouble to steal one.
     
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  12. SeattleBebop1

    SeattleBebop1 Active Member

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    Might not have so much worry from the rank amateurs... especially if they get crushed to death because they haven't got the sense not to sneak under a car with only a scissor jack between their flesh and 3 tons of Prius.
     
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  13. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    Yeah; From seeing the fluid under the Gen 3, he was so stupid that he cut into the preheater coolant lines like the idiot in this video.

     
    #13 Georgina Rudkus, Apr 3, 2021
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2021
  14. SeattleBebop1

    SeattleBebop1 Active Member

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    I've seen this vid before. CARNAGE. I hope that coolant was still hot and that's why these idiots aborted, so they could flee to lick their burns. Cars are like people's horses or bicycles.... the cat theft enrages me. So many people rely on cars for their livelihoods, esp. with so many doing ride-shares.
     
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  15. chickenhawk

    chickenhawk Member

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    Got the Miller Cat shield installed yesterday. Had jacked up the car enough height for me to get in and do the job. Boy its not that much room to work with under there. These guys that are stealing the cats must be jacking a few inches higher than me to steal.

    Anyhow personal notes on this install:
    1.> use normal size 10mm and 12mm sockets (not the deep sockets) cause the ratchet head hits the covers.
    2.> If your car has middle support bar (mines did), put tape on each end and tape it to the frame so when you take all the bolts out it dose not fall and stays lined up with the holes. Also break loose all 4 bolts before taking it off, otherwise if you take off one at time, the last bolt that you break loose it will move the middle support also.
    3.> use 13mm open end combo ratchet /dogbone to install the 4 new bolts on aft end, cause the limited clearance with the cover.
    4.> When you are ready to install the shield, slide the aft end under the black side covers and temporary put the 2 security bolts by hand 3-4 turns in the front end so it will hold the shield for you. Now you can work on the aft end of the shield, putting the spacers and bolt. Tighten the 4 aft bolts down, then put the 2 plastic tabs back on. Then remove the 2 security bolts off so you can put the black 10mm bolts back on the cover. Then last step is install the 2 security bolts with the spacer, washer and compression washer in the front. You will need to put the supplied security bit in a socket to install.

    upload_2021-4-10_6-49-12.jpeg

    [​IMG]


    I've written to Miller Cat on why there was only 2 security screws with the install, where it should have security screws on all 4 corners instead of just the front ones.
     

    Attached Files:

    #15 chickenhawk, Apr 10, 2021
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2021
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  16. chickenhawk

    chickenhawk Member

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    Miller Cat responded and said during their prototyping stage that it would be a hassle to install the security bolts on the aft end cause the limited room from the cover. You would not be able to use a screwdriver with the security bit to install the security screw. But you can install the security bolt with the security bit in a dogbone ratchet. They went ahead and sent me 2 additional security bolts, no charge. :)

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    Want additional security?

    Just fill the security screw heads with putty or duct sealant.

    Gardner Bender 1 lb. Plug Duct Seal Compound-DS-110 - The Home Depot

    It's tedious to remove. You need to dig it out with a micro flat blade screwdriver.

    The duct sealant is very handy for many other uses around the car, the workshop and the home.
     
  18. chickenhawk

    chickenhawk Member

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    IMPORTANT NOTE TO GEN 3 OWNERS THAT ARE CONSIDERING THE MILLER CAT . The install for the Gen 3 requires installation of rivetnut and 25/64" drill bit, so unless you have tool for it you should have a shop put in the for you. It should only run one hour of labor, seems about $75 in the area maybe less. I think the regular repair garages will charge cheaper than muffler shops.

    I got my Gen 3 stainless steel installed today.

    Screenshot_20210420-134521_Drive.jpg
     
    #18 chickenhawk, Apr 20, 2021
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2021
  19. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    A 3/8 inch drill bit works very well with 6mm rivet nuts, as the end of the rivet nut that expands will flare out to tighten securely onto the top edge of the hole in the sheet metal. That extra expansion and flaring out against the burred outer section of the hole actually provides a more secure fastening than a close fit of the 25/64 inch drill bit.

    The actual Youtube installation video on the MillerCat web site shows the installer using a Unibit type step drill bit that has a 3/8 inch step as the tool used.
     
  20. MTN

    MTN Active Member

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    Yes, right meow.