Catalytic converter skid plates & theft deterrent

Pretty sure the thieves dont discriminate too much.

 

Anyone know the weights of the steel vs aluminum versions? Steel is 40lbs I believe.

 

Below pics in first post.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/val...ent-skid-plates-info-and-ordering-post.84911/

 

It is a fair assumption that 3/16 aluminum is about half the weight of 1/8 steel. Same for 1/4 aluminum and 3/16 steel

 

Just did my install. Absolute genius design. No shit. Fasteners weren't specified for load but for available hole size in chassis. Very nice!! Ok, I hate loathe nylock nuts now. Holy cow if I had to take that plate off within 2 years I would use standard nuts and lock washers. It was grudge fk to tighten the big ones on the side and I actually had a 1 1/8" box end wrench (I got tired of that shit and pulled out the impact). Great news is nobody is stealing your cats, that is the last thing you will ever worry about after you use the fastener supplied and these plates. No lazy asss theif would put the effort into removing 1 fastener no less 6. Real shame plates can't be seen because they are very nice. When I beat on the plates after install I did hear some noise between the front and rear plate. I put some metal roofing sealant tape (I had left over) in between and dead silent. ( I can't stand noises). I found my passenger side rear resonator? (looks like cat) heat shield making incredible noises and fixed that.

I drove around for a good hour 84F today. Max plate temp with IR gun was 125F as you can imagine by the cats. So heat is non-issue. Truth be told the area above the exhaust pipe in the back was 130F as designed by Toyota.

I have no idea or if the "cats" behind the front cats are real. The O2 sensor is just after the front cats so you could remove the rear and no check engine line would come on. Dumb assss theif wouldn't know different so instead of having you rear exhaust hacked by both plates.

Kudos to the design, very well thought out, robust and nice tribute to USA with the standard fastener side vs metric....

 

Yeah those giant nuts and bolts were fun....i had to lock in an adjustable wrench inside the frame rail so i could crank on the bolt from the outside. It was almost impossible to take the wrench on the inside of the frame rail off after. Good news is, they are on there so tight, dont even know if i could take them off if i wanted to.....

 

Those were a pain to install and i doubt thieves will take the time to unbolt them. A portable grinder would be quick to take off the heads and drop the plates.

 

They could grind those bolts off all they want, no way they will go through the security bolts from screwed though, and without getting those off, they would have to cut the plates off or through them and no way anyone will bend the 3/16 plates down enough to get anything done. In anycase, if they have time to grind and all that stuff, you are screwed anyway no matter what.

 

People doubt why I say the hex bolts are fine. I use an electric impact to install everything. I pity someone trying to install these with hand tools.
The shop that removed my plates for the headers bitched about removing them. I laughed

 

I believe it. I was prepared with tools and it still took a while. an unprepared thief would have to really be nuts to attempt this with a saw and if hes lucky, simple hand tools.

 

let them grind the bolts off with 60 lbs of awarkward metal laying on them as they drag it out from under the truck. if they want it that bad I may just give them cash.

 

That makes sense as to why they are so long.

 

I wouldn't give them cash. A piece of hot lead from one of my Shields would do just fine.

 

Don't do that, jump in truck and drive over them. Don't forget a can of wasp spray can blind anyone temporarily and shoots 20 feet.

 

Yeah you can't shoot them, and you can't run over them either. These days you can't even beat the shit out of them without an assault charge.

 

let them roll around with eyes on fire while you keep squiring for an hour. Trust me you will have zero charges or civil lawsuits.

 

Just spray them with a bottle of skunk juice. I am referring to Israel’s use since 2008 of “skunk juice” as a weapon to keep enemy neighbors under control. Victims have no idea of its chemical make-up but if they are sprayed with it, it takes days of scrubbing to get rid of the stench. In a land where water is scarce, smelling like the sewer is a disheartening experience.

 

I'm having an issue, can anybody tell me if I'm wrong for what I'm about to say?

I placed an order on March 25th, for 1/8 bare steel front and rear catalytic converter skid plates. I paid the same day using PayPal, a total of $515 and that includes a $15 PayPal fee, I also told him that I have a RCI front skid plate so he can be sure to send me plates with the cut outs in the front. When I asked the vendor when he would be shipping this he said probably next week...ok so far so good.

Two weeks went by, no news from the vendor so I sent him a new message on April 6 to see what's going on with my order. He replied saying that "Might" ship this week, of course I never heard from the seller all week.

I understand he's probably busy but when I check the posts I see that vntundra placed and order on March 31st and got the same item that I ordered the previous week ....does that seem right or I'm the one at fault here...thoughts?

 

Local pick ups are much quicker, setting a day for shipping is a bitch... it always seems to be Saturday and or Sunday... I spent a lot of the week going through everything thing I have, and getting it ready for one of the powder coaters, or stacking it for local pick ups or shipping. I am not cutting more metal this weekend, this is the first time in about a month and a half I haven’t. I am using this time to catch up on everything I have here before I get more.

I apologize for the misleading lead times... I should be catching up on all my shipping orders I have plates for this weekend.

 

I understand your situation, but I'm also a seller and I usually fill out the orders in the same order I receive them, local pick up makes no difference, if shipping is such a hassle for you, I would suggest you stick to local pick up only. just my 2 cents.

 

Patience is your friend -

 

In his defense, @Classy63 is a 1 man shop that is providing a service to his customers. He is 1 of 2 guys in the entire country that is making these plates, and the only 1 that makes a rear plate. These plates are in very high demand and there are only so many hours in a day. He has a primary job besides making these plates. The fact that he took the time outside of a primary job to design, test, and manufacture these is highly respectable IMO. 99.9% of the customers don't mind waiting for their plates to arrive. They know that in the long run, patience pays off and that they will be receiving an excellent product. There are plenty on here that will back that up.

 

To clarify, this is my only job

having a regular job would be easier

 

I want to know who got the Milwaukee razor blade.

 

that’s has nothing to do with my issue. We’re all busy , we all have lives and jobs and more, what I’m questioning is the way he conduct business. Simple as that.

 

Its hanging out with the Tesla thats lost in space.

 

We all knew going in, this was a one man operation. I ordered mine March 17th, just got it yesterday. I’m just thankful I got it when I did. A little patience goes a long ways in the world, especially in these current times.

 

@MoonRock2021 is looking for a couple of people to go in on an order for security bolts if interested.

 

I was contacted by Bryce fasteners, if I were cut a good deal on a bulk order, I could offer these kinds of bolts, I have no interest in up charging these, I would pass down the savings to those who opt for them