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Torans Precision Fabrication Inc. (TPFI on Amazon) Catalytic Converter Shield

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by Cthulhu, Aug 29, 2022.

  1. Aug 29, 2022 at 11:33 AM
    #1
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu [OP] The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    I mostly see Valhalla's, Talon's, RCI, etc. out there as the cat shields of choice on this forum, especially since they can be utilized as skid plates as well. Most are two-piece designs, and Valhalla's and Talon's can be a pain since you need workarounds for installing if you have sliders. My off-roading isn't too intensive (mostly forestry roads), so I really didn't need anything too beefy, and definitely didn't want to have to dick around with my sliders. I also like the option of a one-piece design with only four mounting points. So, I found this on Amazon, and decided to be a "guinea pig" for the forum and report my experience. I bought two, one for my '18 Tundra, and the other for my wife's '16 Sequoia. Two more factors that helped me lean further into the purchase was that it's manufactured in Katy, TX, and it's a veteran-owned company :thumbsup:.

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WC7Z4H2?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

    Ordered 8/19/22, arrived 8/25/22. The shield itself "covers" all 4 cats, and is made of 1/8" bare aluminum. Very light. Typical fabrication blemishes on a bare product. Stainless security bolts and washers included, as well as the bit. Mounting nut plate is made of pickled and oiled steel; for those unfamiliar, pickling is running steel through an acidic bath that removes the top layer of rust-inducing scale, then is covered in rust-inhibitive oil. One thing to note...the Sequoia and the Tundra must have different lengths in the drivelines, because on the Sequoia, the rear lip of the cat shield touched against one of the transfer case's "skid plate" mounting bolt heads. I could just hear in my head that slight contact rattling when idling or driving, so I took some pliers and bent the shield lip back a little bit. Problem solved. There was about 1.5" of clearance between the bolt head and the shield lip on the Tundra, so no modification needed.

    I had to jack up the Sequoia, so that took a little time. Then I had to figure out the mounting points (instructions not included), but it was not that hard. Most difficult part (made much easier if you have a helper) was lifting the shield into place since it is cumbersome; jack stands were my friends. To install on the Sequoia took about an hour because of all the set-up/prep work. Because my Tundra is lifted, there was no need to jack it up, and since I knew the mounting points, the Tundra took way less time at about 20 minutes.

    All the cat shields manufactured are for theft deterrence, not theft proofing. As others have mentioned, these thieves are motivated by speed and ease of theft; with any of the shields on the market, the thieves are likely to see a cat shield, and move on to the next vehicle. This shield is no different. Like the RCI "wings" that came out a couple of months ago, there still technically is enough room to squeeze into the area around the rear passenger side cat and get it cut out, though it would require small arms, hands, and sawzall. Plus, it would probably take as much time to steal that one cat as it would all four with no shield, so again, I think thieves would see this shiny shield and HOPEFULLY move on. I'll probably put some kind of threatening decal on the shield too like "FAFO":rofl:.

    Overall I'm pleased with the value, construction, and ease of installation. We'll see in the future how they hold up to some light off-roading, but I am happy with my purchase. I hope this helps someone else.

    Shields when they arrived, and mounting hardware:


    Sequoia:


    Tundra:


    Showing the rear passenger cat "exposure" (applicable to both the Sequoia and Tundra):
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2022
    tundraatx, sask3m, panicman and 7 others like this.
  2. Aug 29, 2022 at 11:54 AM
    #2
    e30cabrio

    e30cabrio I'm e30cabrio, I'm a modaholic

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    Nice write up, they look fine. I removed my transfer case skid plate when I installed my Valhalla plates.
     
    WVI and Cthulhu[OP] like this.
  3. Aug 29, 2022 at 12:07 PM
    #3
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu [OP] The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    Thank you! Reckon I could've removed that t-case "skid plate" and mounting bolt that was contacting the rear shield lip on the Sequoia, but I took the lazy way out with the pliers:rofl:. Plenty of clearance on the Tundra to where you don't have to adjust/remove anything.
     
    GODZILLA and HulkSmurf14 like this.
  4. Aug 29, 2022 at 12:10 PM
    #4
    e30cabrio

    e30cabrio I'm e30cabrio, I'm a modaholic

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    Sequoia LED Headlights! D.T. L.T. headers, dual exh., BDX, S&B intake, 2018 seat skins.
    You have a doubly protected TC.

    lol
     
    RustyShackle323 and Cthulhu[OP] like this.
  5. Aug 30, 2022 at 6:37 PM
    #5
    RilerOfDogs

    RilerOfDogs New Member

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    Nice breakdown. Since it's been a few months, have you experienced any issues with overheating from the CATs?
     
    Cthulhu[OP] likes this.
  6. Aug 31, 2022 at 5:28 AM
    #6
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu [OP] The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    Thanks! Technically it's been only a few days, since I installed them this past Saturday, but I ran both vehicles for about 30 minutes, and I did not experience any overheating from the cats.
     
  7. Aug 31, 2022 at 5:56 AM
    #7
    blackoutt

    blackoutt YEAH BUDDY!

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    How do these interact with the front factory skid?
     
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  8. Aug 31, 2022 at 10:33 AM
    #8
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu [OP] The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    Factory skid...they don't. TRD skid, they probably do, but I doubt there'd be issues.
     
    blackoutt[QUOTED] likes this.
  9. Aug 31, 2022 at 10:41 AM
    #9
    Bergy24

    Bergy24 New Member

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    I've been eying this plate up for a while and notice all the good reviews.
    With it being 1/8" and only 4 mounting points does it flex a lot or rattle when you are driving?
    I am assuming the bends in the plate help keep everything rigid and not rattle.
    How are the back plates? Are the welds good and did the fasteners all thread in easily?
     
    Cthulhu[OP] likes this.
  10. Aug 31, 2022 at 10:43 AM
    #10
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu [OP] The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    I had zero issue with the backplate threads as some reported on Amazon. I've driven both vehicles around town and at highway speeds...no rattling that I can hear, even with all the windows down, even while idling.
     
    Bergy24[QUOTED] likes this.
  11. Aug 31, 2022 at 11:00 AM
    #11
    frichco228

    frichco228 Valued Member

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    This seems to cover as much as much of the rear cats as the other brands?

    No drill install? uses existing holes?
     
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  12. Aug 31, 2022 at 11:22 AM
    #12
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu [OP] The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    Correct, no drill, uses existing holes. Time will tell, but preliminarily, the only issue I see is that an EXTREMELY determined thief can still get to the rear passenger cat on 4WD models. On 2WD models, since there is no transfer case, there also might be enough room to get to the rear driver side cat, but both my vehicles are 4WD. Same thing though, I think getting to the rear driver side cat on a 2WD would take more time and determination, and again, these thieves are all about TIME.
     
    BravoDeltaRomeo likes this.
  13. Aug 31, 2022 at 11:35 AM
    #13
    Bergy24

    Bergy24 New Member

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    Your honest opinion,
    Considering the plate from Talons Garage is 1/4” and the shipped price is about $655, do you feel this was a good value?
     
  14. Aug 31, 2022 at 11:45 AM
    #14
    vtl

    vtl New Member

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    Ain't that a resonator? If that's the cat, where's its downstream H2OS? ECU has to control TWYC health and light up a CEL if TWYC crossed its efficiency threshold, so it should have both upstream/downstream H2OS.

    And what would be the purpose of two cats sitting in line that far away from the engine? I understand why some engines have a small cat sitting very close to or even being a part of exhaust manifold, plus the bigger one, but really a second TWYC, good 4 or 5 feet from the exhaust port? I'm not even sure it would have any residual heat left in order to reach the operating temperature.
     
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  15. Aug 31, 2022 at 12:35 PM
    #15
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu [OP] The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    You're asking questions and bringing up points that are unfortunately WAY beyond my pay grade:rofl:. Only thing for sure I can tell you is that I don't have a resonator in my exhaust system.
     
  16. Aug 31, 2022 at 1:14 PM
    #16
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu [OP] The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    Thanks so much for asking, and here's my honest opinion. WAY down the line (we're talking years), when my Tundra is not my DD and I get into more adventurous off-roading, I plan on installing beefy armor underneath (i.e. steel or aluminum 1/4" thick). For now, I did want cat theft deterrence, so I figured for the good of the forum and to give me peace of mind until I upgrade under the Tundra (I'll be keeping the Sequoia as-is since it definitely will see minimal off-roading), I'd explore this option for the reasons I mentioned in my original post. When I do upgrade, I'd possibly go with Talon's, because I did see on his site where he is offering a solution for those of us with sliders. If Valhalla's offers that, then I'll go with Valhalla's since it's basically his design.

    This, IMHO, offers the best rear cat protection, BUT, the thickest you can order is 3/16":

    Cat Security
    https://www.getcatsecurity.com/p-ca...ndle-2007-2021-toyota-tundra-4wd-tun4wdultbun

    I did see a few posts on the forum of another company making a pretty groovy cat shield, but I can't remember the thickness, and it has a hole cut out to accommodate the OEM transmission case "skid plate". It was painted black and had "Tundra" laser cut into it, but for the life of me I cannot find the posts to provide a link. If anyone knows what I'm talking about and can find the link, please reply...TIA. :thumbsup:

    I can tell you one thing...there is a market niche that can be filled by someone "checking all the boxes": offer 1/4" skid protection (in steel or aluminum), full coverage on the rear cats, covers the transfer case completely without having to remove the "skid plate" or laser cutting a hole to accommodate it, and rear mounting points utilizing the holes like mine and not the brackets like Valhalla's and Talon's. I haven't seen it yet, and maybe engineering-wise, it's not possible. BUT whoever can provide that...
    :spending:
     
    Joe333x likes this.
  17. Aug 31, 2022 at 1:21 PM
    #17
    Bergy24

    Bergy24 New Member

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    Thanks for the response. I need to decide which one I want and just order it.
     
  18. Sep 4, 2022 at 12:09 PM
    #18
    TundraTed

    TundraTed New Member

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    For $529 and 4 day delivery using Amazon, I’m liking this cat shield so far… it took 20 minutes max to install

    In the first photo you can see the dirty fumoto valve… cause I know everyone likes oil talk round here

    6ABA41CF-C7E7-4ED5-AE5B-02EEFF717CD3.jpg 4090DA91-8411-4DE7-B25F-900EAC97004D.jpg
     
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  19. Sep 4, 2022 at 2:25 PM
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    1lowlife

    1lowlife Toxic prick and pavement princess..

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    They are both cats.
    Although the front one is worth a lot more to thieves, it has more precious metals in it.
    But you'd be giving a thief too much credit to know this so they steal both.

    I just sold one side of my 2014 cats to an online recycler.
    The thieves left the driver's side hanging on the hanger.
    It was too big of a PITA to sell locally..

    The rear cat was worth about 14% of the value of the front.
     
  20. Sep 15, 2022 at 9:16 AM
    #20
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu [OP] The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    Added a little “bling” to the cat shield :rofl:


     
  21. Oct 24, 2022 at 7:36 AM
    #21
    Bergy24

    Bergy24 New Member

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    Please provide an update on these plates.
    Any issues with heat or any new noises?
     
  22. Oct 24, 2022 at 7:55 AM
    #22
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu [OP] The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    I've had zero issues with heat; I can touch the shield after several hours of driving. No issues with noise (rattling, etc.) either; though I did use some nylon washers between the plate and the frame. :thumbsup:
     
    Henry1jg, WVI and Bergy24[QUOTED] like this.
  23. Nov 1, 2022 at 2:10 AM
    #23
    13igtymer

    13igtymer New Member

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    Is it compatible with aftermarket skid plate? I have the rci skid plate
     
  24. Nov 1, 2022 at 11:35 AM
    #24
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu [OP] The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    Probably, but call them and ask to be sure. Kris Torans, (281) 371-2352.
     
  25. Nov 2, 2022 at 8:24 AM
    #25
    NyCSnEaK

    NyCSnEaK New Member

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    Thanks for posting this bud. It made me dwell deeper into looking for cat shields that are affordable. Like you I go off road, but no rock crawling. Mostly into wooded mountainous areas to canoe/kayak, hunt, and hike. Destinations in NJ(Pine Barrens and DWG), upstate NY, NH, and inland Maine.

    I found a cat skid that was on sale for $299 by RoughNeck and sold by Trails End Truck. 5% off for email sign up. $304.xx shipped.

    It appears similar to the one you purchased, but made from steel and comes with hardware. Hopefully, it turns out to be a perfect match. Mine is strictly for theft deterrence, since I travel to the 5 boros and NJ cities along the Hudson. These thefts make me hesitant on taking the Tundra anywhere near urban areas. Will post picks of shield once installed.

    https://trailsendtruck.com/i-305181...U3KWWLp2guMPVtTvpE2cSesDa7EwqrJYaAtZCEALw_wcB
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2022
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  26. Nov 2, 2022 at 10:14 AM
    #26
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu [OP] The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    That was the goal, for people to explore this and other options. I like that it's painted black. Only thing I would be concerned about is how well it covers the rear cats. It doesn't look to come back as far as the one I bought does. Very interested to see your pics.
     
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  27. Nov 2, 2022 at 10:23 PM
    #27
    NyCSnEaK

    NyCSnEaK New Member

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    It’s a bit short in comparison to yours. The would be thief still has to cut thru the plate to get the other end of the cat. That was what I was thinking, when I ordered it.
     
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  28. Nov 2, 2022 at 10:35 PM
    #28
    JimboSlice413

    JimboSlice413 Super Nice Guy

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    This seems pricey for 1/8 aluminum. I think the 1/4" is cheaper from Valhalla
     
  29. Nov 3, 2022 at 5:08 AM
    #29
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu [OP] The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    Let's not compare the 1/4" since it is definitely WAY more than the Torans, let's just look at the 3/16" from Valhalla's...$350 front bare aluminum + $275 rear bare aluminum = $625, BEFORE shipping (shipping to my place was $70, so $695 total). Add to that lead time. The Torans option is cheaper, one piece, ships within a few days, and is a delivered price. The Valhalla admittedly though is a more robust design for offroading, particularly the 1/4".
     
  30. Nov 10, 2022 at 4:00 PM
    #30
    dt325ic

    dt325ic Member

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    Please update thread when you receive.

    This might be a good one to order now assuming no delay in shipment. Then add Valhalla rear plate later.

     

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