Home made Cat Shields?

Hopefully they can't fit a bolt cutter under there

 

Rivnuts are the cats a$$ and would work well in this situation

 

I just saw that the parking garage next to mine has a tundra and sequoia get hit yesterday. First I have heard that close. Better get my ass in gear. My template is for the front only. If I recall the rear would be a little wider than 48 inches. Is that what you found as well?

 

Dang man, this is nuts with these thieves, I have my truck parked up against the house next to a window with the light on. I just finished the front shield, pics to come. I will let you know soon on the rear. I think 48" sits about centered in the frame rails. Im making mine 46" and using 3" side shields

 

How big of a bolt do rivnuts go? I ditched the speed nuts and ended up drilling 1/2" holes in my shield and going through the existing holes in the crossmembers.
These shields/plates are heavy and would hate to have that sucker frisbie out from under my truck

 

Some go pretty dang big. Here is one that goes up to 1/2” like you drilled. (I’m not recommending this tool as I haven’t used/reviewed it, but just to show that they do have mandrels up to 1/2”)

Rivet Nut Tool, GIANTISAN 16" Rivnut Tool Kit with 12 Metric and SAE Mandrels, Nutsert Rivet Tool Set with 120Pcs Assorted Rivnuts, Threaded Insert Hand Riveter with Rugged Carrying Case

$80 GIANTISAN Rivet Nut Tool Kit,16" Rivnut Tool Kit with 12 Metric and SAE Mandrels, 176Pcs Rivet nut Assortment Kit, Designed for Labour Saving

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VPB676Y?_encoding=UTF8

 

now that I’m thinking about it though.. not sure how you’d get a rivnut tool under the truck without a lift. You could use the old school method of two wrenches or try something like this..

Astro Pneumatic Tool ADN38 XL Rivet Nut Drill Adapter Kit - 3/8" Capacity

$83 Astro Pneumatic Tool ADN38 XL Rivet Nut Drill Adapter Kit - 3/8" Capacity

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JBHWBR2?_encoding=UTF8

..just spitballing ideas for ya here..

 

Interesting tool. Thanks for your idea, could come in handy.

 

Front shield is done, just need to clean up welds and drill some vent holes. Its cold up here in MN and might have to wait till next spring to paint. any suggestions as to what I can coat it with for the winter? I was thinking roll on bedliner but it may not dry. Tomorrow is the last day in the 40s, then 30 on down in the forecast.

 

Use this.
https://por15.com/collections/all/products/rust-preventive-coating
I couldn't find any temp concerns, just humidity to affect dry time 3-6 hours. I assume your humidity is quite low. Wear gloves and a respirator.

 

I've used por-15 quite a bit but never in cooler temps, I know about the humidity haha, I put some on once and it was drying as fast as I could spread it.
I will check it out, thanks for the tip.

 

I found another forum where a guy used por-15 at 60 degrees, he shut down the heat in his shop after coating his part, It got down into the 20s and his parts were dry! I think I will give it a try.
https://www.ffcars.com/threads/por-15-and-low-temperatures-update.2627/

 

POR 15 is some of the meanest shit on the planet! I didn’t read the directions one time and wore that shit for a month!

Anyway, got a piece of metal today. Talked to my buddy who works at a pipe/metal supplier. Gave him my measurements and all he had around that size was stainless. I figured…..no way that will be cost effective. Ok. Humor me. How much. $100! Sold. I was so happy I threw in a bottle of Blantons for him (which I will get to help him consume).

 

I’d like to see a story where someone rigged up a system with a dye pack, like the banks use. When those stellar humans go for the quick theft.....bam. Coated in red dye. Maybe change the chemical makeup so they are only temporarily blinded. And then again maybe not.
Life’s tough. It’s even tougher when you’re stupid.

 

I vote for the latter!

 

Awesome score, is that a 4x8 sheet? if so you could make 2 sets. Ditto on the Por-15, I'm wearing a little on my right hand now.
To all that are curious about using por-15 in cooler temps, it works fine, I applied it at about 43 degrees and the temps dropped to 37 and it was dry enough to handle in about 3 hours.

 

Got the front Shield done and painted with por-15. I screwed up and got silver instead of black but oh well. Got the rear shield done but still needs paint.
I installed them both just for peace of mind. Over the weekend I will clean up my crappy welds on the rear and paint. then I made some spacer blocks to go between the rear crossmember and the shields, I stacked washers but its still not enough. I have it bolted in with 1/2x4 hex bolts for the crossmembers and 1/2x1 for the rear side brackets until I can get some Tamper Proof bolts.

 

It measures 41x56 so not a full sheet. My original template to cover the front was 31 inches so being that the sheet is 41 inches long I should have enough material to cover both. I’m wondering if I could cover all with a single piece. Not sure if that will be possible.

 

I heard if you buy an engraver and/or permanent paint marker to write your VIN on all cats that thieves won’t take them because no scrap yard will give money to a cat with a vin on it. Not sure if that’s true or not

 

I have seen that you should in TV. Any deferent is good. Texas had a bull on the floor to make a law around catalytic converters and requiring a bunch of info to salvage them. I will have to look up specifics.

 

Cat shields are done and final install, Drilled the cooling holes and used Stainless carriage bolts along with Nylock nuts. They are buried up above the crossmembers and I had to use a ratchet wrench to install the nuts, they don't spin like regular nuts so it would take a thief a good while to get them off.
I may need to add some more washers at the rear crossmember being the shield is very close to the transfer case even with the skid plate removed.

 

That looks fantastic!! Great job man, are those 1/2in holes? I did not have the patience to drill 40+ holes in my plate. Temps have been fine though. We'll see what happens this summer.

 

Nice job. You know you're dedicated to a job when you pull out the cardboard on a snowy driveway.

 

Some quick ideas, plasma cutter or a hole saw, fewer bigger holes. Even some slots with a grinder or raise up the truck and throw a friction blade on a skill saw with a shallow cut setting. Just limit the heat you generate with a slow pace.

 

Homemade theft prevention my bro in law did on his first Gen. Obviously it’s not a cage or a full skid plate. But it definitely looks harder to get now. He got to practice his welding LOL

 

I don't have access to a plasma cutter. I was gonna drill holes, but it's 3/16 and It was killing my hands just drilling the holes for the plate and brackets. The grinder idea sounds good though, I really like it. I've been wanting to buy a magnetic drill press, that would make it super easy, especially with a slug bit. I'm gonna see how it does in the summer first. I pulled my camper 3hrs in 85F+ weather after installing and the temp was only 2F more than usual. So it's not concerning at the moment

 

Fwiw, you can usually rent a mag drill for a reasonable cost. Also, don't look down on a cheap like $300 plasma, worth every penny and many more!

 

Most Cat thieves are looking to get your Cats in 3-5 minutes. Any more than that they are more likely to get caught.

Anything you can do to slow them down they will roll out from under your truck and go somewhere else.

The Cat Protection Plate I made for my Tundra is kind of a minimalist form, but I think the rats will see it and say forget it.

11 gauge hot rolled steel, powder coated black. Standard fasteners using existing holes in frame for simple installation.

Yes, some would argue about the standard fasteners, but these guys are not toting around wrenches and impact guns...just sawzalls.

They want quick money, not a drawn out CAT extraction. Here are some pics. I am in Cypress, TX.

 

that's really good!

 

Do you guys think 3/32” aluminum is good enough? There’s some in Houston and have anti tamper fasteners. Worried it can cut off tho