Anybody else had their catalytic converter stolen yet

[Spanish Radio]

Seattle has progressive prosecutors who will pretty much only prosecute murder or rape unless there is monetary benefit for the city. The judges let almost every thief walk. The cops will ignore a crime unless it involves possible murder or rape because they are under resourced. Catalytic Converters are a great target in this environment.

 

[Chuckinden]

$750K worth of catalytic converters were confiscated by LA police.

 

[starchief]

I worked junkyards (salvage) a bit in Florida and TN (Harrogate TN area). Back then, catalytic converters were not the commodity they are today, but salvage value -- after all the parts, engines, etc. -- was amazing. Even after all parts pulled and literally empty shells disposed, overall value was just off the charts. Major factor is actually owning the land and operating a safe environment to bring customers in so they can pull the parts. Biggest goldmine in the world, outside gold and silver mines.

I bought a new car in 1965 and never bought another new one until 2008. I bought used cars from private owners and kept them running myself. Spent a lot of time in Pic a Part junkyards. Parts were relatively dirt cheap. By the mid-90s cars began to get too complicated (and the engine compartment too crowded) for DIYers to fix a lot of stuff in a garage or driveway. By my mid-60s I got too old to be crawling around under cars.

 

[BigBlueDave_rivals76951]

Just off a random search, this NJ scrapyard offers free shipping if you ship over $175. Otherwise, it will cost you $10-30 to get it to them.

You still have to provide a drivers license photocopy, but it is stored in NJ and not at your local scrapyard. It could also be anyone's ID.

Current prices:

I changed out one of two in an F150 myself last summer. I paid more than aftermarket and bought stock from ford for $350 for ease of installation.

Aftermarket were around $100 and my thought at the time was that there couldn't be much raw material in them for the retail to be $100.

That is correct for the aftermarket. They have the same honeycomb structure inside, but aren't coated with much.

Current aftermarket price:

 

[BigBlueDave_rivals76951]

By the mid-90s cars began to get too complicated (and the engine compartment too crowded) for DIYers to fix a lot of stuff in a garage or driveway.

Very true, but then came YouTube.

Somebody out there has experienced the same component failure and more than likely there will be a dozen step by step fixes posted. Pick the most knowledgeable and proceed.

You are just a year, model, symptom search away from knowing what to order and how to repair.

 

[Bigtyrone]

Someone tried to steal my dad's last year, but they couldn't get it out. It probably happened in Madison, Indiana but no one noticed the scratch marks on it until a few months later.

 

[Bigtyrone]

My daughter, bless her heart, was visiting friends in Louisville when her car broke down (aka running out of gas). Instead of calling AAA she leaves it on side of expressway. Next day window broke and anything inside and out worth a nickel was gone including multiple wiring harnesses and catalytic converter.

WTH? On the expressway? That's pretty ballsy.
Wheree was it? I'm guessing way out 265 or west 264 near Indiana.