Cat Shield Trapping Heat Issues?

Hello my fellow Tundra owners,

i recently purchased a 2020 1794 Edition Tundra and learned really quickly about the cat theft and shields respectively.

if I decide to install a cat shield (which i already made an appointment at my dealership to install millercat shields). Should I be concerned with transmission/catalytic converter heat being trapped?

has anyone reported issues after having a shield installed with their transmission, other components possibly?

 

You will not have any issues. I am in FL and I checked a few areas on mine with a digital thermometer. No issues at all.

 

I am in SoCal and we recently had some 100°+ weather here and I didnt notice the tranny temps to be any higher compared to when its significantly cooler outside. I monitor tranny temps with the OBD Fusion app.

 

That’s good to know. I’m in Minnesota and it gets pretty cold in the winter/spring/fall so should be even less of an issue.

Thank you guys!

 

Not sure if it would actually work this way, but the shield being under there may prevent exposure and corrosion of salt/snow under that part of the truck.

 

Welcome to the forum.

If you have basic tools (a socket and combination wrench set) you can install a cat shield yourself fairly easily.
There is really no reason to pay $110 an hour that your dealer may be charging you to install it.

Installed mine in about 45 minutes, and it only took that long because I swapped the rear bolts on my TRD skid plate.

 

you cat shield look really good and seems to cover all 4 cats? Can you send more info about your cat shield?

if you are saying it’s easy to do then I’ll do it myself and save some money.

 

It would help to have a friend to hold things in place to install it, but many of us did it on our own.

Here is a thread on the one I have.

Valhalla’s Shield theft deterrent/skid plates info and ordering post | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)

And here is Tyler's @Classy63 website.
He is an authorized forum vendor.

Valhalla’s Shield - Catalytic Converter Theft Deterrent (valhallasshields.com)

He has a front, rear, and vertical back plate.

My pics are of my 2wd, there are other pics in that thread of 4WD.
I feel he makes the best product, although he does have a wait time.
He is pretty much a one-man operation.

If you search the threads you can find other plate manufacturers that can give you faster delivery.
But always take note of the coverage they provide.
Many don't restrict access to the rear cats.
The rears are not worth as much as the fronts, but most thieves probably don't know that.

I'm big on cat shields because mine were stolen from my employer's parking lot in November 2021.
My dealership had my truck for 8 months and 5 days waiting for cats to come in..
Although they provided me (and paid for) a rental/loaner, many on here didn't get that.

Any shield will be a deterrent, but the more coverage the better..

Again I have a TRD skid plate, but that offers no cat protection that you'll see in my pics..

No plates



Valhalla front, rear, and vertical plate.

 

Thanks for taking the time to post the pics and sharing all of the info!

 

Sonoran Desert reporting in, it's been 100+ here since May. Also reporting no issues with heat, with Valhalla's F+R shields.

 

No problem with heat. Recently took a 2,000 mile round-trip to Wyoming and back in 97 degree weather. No problems whatsoever.

 

You're welcome.
That's what we do here.
Glad you can be a part of it.

 

Welcome, I'm in Pheonix, it has averaged 100000000 degrees all summer, I have a 4X Sequoia with a similar set up plate wise to 1lowlife, no issues.

 

@Classy63 what are the lead times if I order the cat shields for front and back through your website?

 

Assuming you have a 22 from your profile name, I should have some 1/8 steel in the next week or 2

 

FrostyTundra, go down to your local sheriffs dept. and get 4 catalytic ID stickers to apply to your new catalytic converters when you get them. There is a pilot program in Minnesota where you register the applied S/N of each of your cats and if/when stolen the law enforcement folks can track the cats back to a specific vehicle to assist in prosecution of the dirt bags that stole them. The program is free. Then put on your cat shields (I bought Valhalla Shields) and you have done all that you can to discourage the thieves. Minnesota is one of the worst states for catalytic converter theft. Oh I almost forgot, if at all possible keep out of Minneapolis and St. Paul and the close surrounding areas.

 

Nope, That’s the day I was born. I have a 1794 Edition 2020.

Thanks man, I saw an article on this today while looking for thefts in Minnesota and looks like the police department is the place to go.

 

Thanks for reminding me that I DO NOT miss the AZ heat!

 

Man that Valhalla car shield is a nice looking piece. I wonder if they make them for a Tacoma....

 

I have a prototype that is close

 

Will it fit a 06 Prerunner? I'm in the market.

 

Not tested yet

 

I don't have any holes in my cat plate/skid plate, and have noticed zero difference in trans temps since installing it, mine is a solid plate covering all 4 cats. Ive towed 8k for 10hrs, lots of low speed offroading, etc. No difference in trans temps or coolant temps. I was going to add holes under the cats eventually, but at this point it seems like a waste of time.

 

I'll attest to both @Classy63, his product, and the fact there are no temp issues with them installed, including while towing 8k lbs. Top notch and worth the wait. Having tried to save a buck myself, just pay for the powder coat.

 

If the lead times are short I will definitely go with Valhalla’s. They look great and seem to fit perfectly too.

 

Ended up going with MillerCat and installed by the dealership. Mostly because I don’t have the time at this time. The dealership is also going to foot the bill of the rear MillerCat and free installation as that is what I was told I was getting.

Even the way it is, would be very difficult to take the rear cats as they wouldn’t be able to make a cut on the front side of the pipe.

This forum really brought this up to my attention, otherwise I wouldn’t have done it.

 

In all likelihood it could do the opposite of keeping heat in. Most of the air that passes through a radiator exits under the vehicle at the back of whatever underbody cover is down there. Going down the road I imagine there's quite a breeze above those skids.

 

Same - i never knew this was so prevalent until this forum - looked at my local PD stats, and there are 3-5 reports per day of stolen cats. So have a set of MillerCats on the way (with rear guard as well)

 

Installed the Millercat system with the rear guards. I went ahead and used the countersunk hardware on the rear and it installed fine.

 

Looks good! I will be installing the rear shields/guards as well.