Catalytic converter theft...

[NYlakesider]

Gary we had a local shade tree, car-chopping mechanic when the catalytic converters first came out that would cut them off and weld in straight pipe. It would increase HP and performance substantially. He had a big dumpster full of catalytic converters that I think be buried someplace periodically. I can only imagine the value now.

One of the common ways of gutting a cat cheap and easy back in the late 60s early 70s was to use a big Allan wrench (3/4 if I remember right) and pull the plug. Just by simple driving all the stuff inside the cat fell out and you reduced a lot of back pressure.

They said that could make a substantial rise in HP and pick up a couple MPG. Then the restrictor in the gas tank was enlarged so you could use cheaper leaded gas. Some other things also could be done! Many garages in that era made a lot of money doing a Dsmog.

 

[Gregor]

Mine was stolen June 24

My 2006 Chevy Silverado's catalytic converter was stolen while it was parked in the "secure" company parking lot. Noticed hand prints on the lower door panels where they used them as a pivot pull point to slide under. The right passenger side inner fender well was missing. The right side cat was gone, the left was cut through but the sawsall blade couldn't cut through the weld. The cats are at the manifold Y-pipe.

Ended up buying a 2021 RAM the next day to replace it. Was looking to get a new truck, just moved up the time line.

Chevy had 286,000 miles on a 5.3L V-8 and was an excellent running truck, but little things started going the past few months.

 

[TexasArmed]

I think this philosophy of denying people the right to protect their property needs to be revisited.

We are NOT denied that right in Texas.
Mine is protected by Smith Wesson and Glock. The converter
or the hybrid battery either one are worth more than my vehicle
is worth. Hardly worth dying for but if a thug insists so be it.
If I were not ready to protect my property I would not own a gun. Not likely to be able to recover the property if they run
off with it, so it meets the Texas statute requirement to use
deadly force protecting property during the night time.

 

[Greyman50]

Years ago knew a guy that had a perfectly restored 57 Chevy, got tired of " people" rubbing their hands all over ,even with Big signs asking not to touch it, so he wired a Model T coil to the body, almost knock someone down. These days he would get sued to death.

 

[Chukar60]

Years ago I had a muffler shop put a 3" down pipe and a 4" exhaust on my 96 7.3L Powerstroke.
Took it to get emissions tested when they were done. They would not test it because there was no cat on the system.
I never looked before it went in, but my diesel mechanic assured me it had one from the factory and he had seen it there.
I called the County emissions people and asked what I could do besides go spend big bucks to get a new cat.
They sent me (is that even legal for a gvt employee) to a nice guy who installed one for a very reasonable cost. Then the county wanted to know who did the work. I was reluctant to tell them until they explained it was a racket for the shops to pull them out and keep them as they could re-sell them or recycle them.
Name was offered up and 3 weeks later after a few more complaints and a sting operation the shop was out of business.