I got a call on Wednesday night from a friend the next street over who
>had the catalytic converter stolen off his 4-Runner during the night. >
>Searching on-line, I learned that Toyota trucks/SUVs are a prime target
>for catalytic converter thieves because of the high clearance and the
>ease of unbolting it or cutting the pipe.
>
>I've been looking at the various theft protection devices:
>
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>I'm thinking of just making my own with 5/16" wire rope since all of the
>commercial ones use wire rope too.
>
>Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't see why a few turns of the wire
>rope on the pipe going into each side of the converter, and then
>cross-pattern spiral wrapping of the converter with the cable, then
>running the cable through frame members one each end would not be as
>good as the "cage" of horizontal cables used by the catclamp. I went
>under the vehicle and tried it with rope today to see how much cable I'd
>need. and it looks like about 20' would do it. I might also use some
>steel cable ties to tie the cable together where it crosses.
>
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">I'd use these bolted "swages" but I can route the cable so these are not >reachable to undo them with wrenches.>
>Any suggestions.
Move to a neighborhood with a better class of thief. Say, next to your congresscritter or Mafia don.