Some meth addicts get over $80 a piece for some OEM cats. And a lot of Chryslers have multiple cats.


I like my aftermarket cat for the simple fact that unless they are REALLY desparate, they won't likely bother with it.

 

I sold my old 93 cat to a scrap recycle place for $140 cash.

 

Just to give you an idea of the cost of an OEM cat, a replacement for a 2001 Tacoma (V6) is $862 retail for the front cat and $1002 retail for the rear cat.

 

People are crazy. I had someone steal the spare tire off my truck there goes 1 33x12.5 BFG ;p and they tryed to get my rears found out when i went to drive to work on the freeway that the rear end was loose. when i stopped i had lost a total of 4 luggs and 1 stud, needless to say i was very lucky a wheel didnt fly off on the freeway, but i just so happened to have a spare set of luggs with me and i was up and goin in 5 mins.

 

Anyone who would actually buy toyota OEM parts like that is an idiot. 1900 dollars vs. 200 for aftermarket cats that will flow more.

 

i dont know why people dont just put up fake CATs and only install real ones for emission tests????

 

in some parts of cali they have roadside smog checks (like a DUI checkpoint) and they'll test your car on the spot.

 

So what do they do if you fail one of those? I'm invisioning them slapping the cuffs on and haul her off to the impound lot.

 

What? Where is this so i can avoid it?

 

yea they impound the truck big time fine as well-

 

i used to see them in san diego all the time it kind of looks like a DUI checkpoint when you roll up. I have'nt seen it up in norcal yet -

 

you need the "Am i being detained" guy with you when you roll up to one of those checkpoints!

 

The worse part of having parts ripped off your truck.... is the ensuing paranoia. Hell, I'm already paranoid... I don't need a real event to make it worse.

I've never had anything stolen.. so I'm guessing how I'd feel. This problem has been getting steadily worse over the last 50 years.

My starting point... in the 50's, you could leave your keys in the ignition with the car unlocked, and piled with stuff you bought inside.

No more.

We were supposedly a racist, homophobic society in those days. But that is not the reality I grew up in. Cars, homes, gas and food were all inexpensive. No drugs, no crime, and lots of people around to help others if they needed it. Must have been a dreamworld.

Seems like we have paid a huge price for all this "freedom" and "tolerance".

But I do like the toys we have today. Which I did more than my share to make happen.

 

so say a truck from another state gets caught by one of those drive-by smog checks, would his truck be impounded? Ya got me kind of nervous about goin to cali with my cat-less truck.

 

rowdy235- No, If your just visiting, your not required to conform to local smog equipment. However, there is a certain amount of conforming you have to do if you import or more into california with a "Non-50 state" emissions system.

I've been told that if your caught without a CAT on your vehicle, they will impound the vehicle, install a cat and sell it at auction. Taking the cost of the work done out of the sale, leaving you liable for the difference and only recieving some of what was made on the sale (assuming there is a profit).

 

Who told you that?

 

just had this happen to me... '95 4runner 3vze 5spd 53,000...cat stolen in broad daylight

can you folks help me out with the following q's

1. Which is better (in terms of performance & durability), a direct fit or universal fit? I'd rather put it on myself (direct fit) than have a mechanic charge me to weld one on (universal fit)
2. Should I view this as an opportunity to install a catback? Keep in mind that I would leave the headers stock.
a. performance wise, would i see any notable increase/decrease in hp or torque seeing that the 3vze is underpowered to begin with
b. the header pipe has a diameter of 2"; the downey catback i'm considering is 2.5'' --will this difference severely affect back pressure?
c. has the back pressure debate been resolved? what are ppl's thoughts
3. any other suggestions are much appreciated

 

I've read that 2¼" pipe is best for the 3VZE, but only read and don't know first hand. Durability, stock is best. Fully stainless but brutally expensive. I don't believe after market cat's have any advantage over one another.

There's a local shop here that welds them in for $175. The cost of the Cat is $110, so I don't know if the $60 is worth your trouble.

 

i should perhaps mention the toyota dealer wanted 978 parts and labor to replace the cat....yikes

also:
4. my 4runner is a 10/95 production model -- how would i know whether it's OBD-II? I only see one oxygen sensor before the cat so im guessing it's not OBDII

5. altho it might not affect performance, would a decent catback system prolong headgasket life as it takes away more heat quickly? im paranoid my gaskets are gonna blow

 

Wow, I didn't know they are so valuable. If you put a weld or two in line with the pipe, that would make it a lot harder/impossible to twist a pipe cutter around it. There is no shortage of cats around, they will just go for the easy ones.