CATs...$$$$ ????
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: The Ham AL
CATs...$$$$ ????
I recently cut some CATs off my car. Don't worry, I have an 89 and I left the main CAT to gather all the bad stuff and I plan on replacing the whole exhaust in due time.
My question is.....are CATs really worth $$$$?
I have even seen something on the local news to indicate that CATs are being stolen because of the precious metal inside. I don't know what is inside, b/c I have never broken one up; however, I have two sitting in a box now and want to chunk em.
A dude recently told me that if I take them to the local junk yard that they will pay me good cash for them. My first thought was YAAHOO, I can sell these babies and get me a new exhaust.
Anyone heard of this CAT stealing frenzy?
My question is.....are CATs really worth $$$$?
I have even seen something on the local news to indicate that CATs are being stolen because of the precious metal inside. I don't know what is inside, b/c I have never broken one up; however, I have two sitting in a box now and want to chunk em.
A dude recently told me that if I take them to the local junk yard that they will pay me good cash for them. My first thought was YAAHOO, I can sell these babies and get me a new exhaust.
Anyone heard of this CAT stealing frenzy?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 123
From: Birmingham AL
Yes, I wonder if the professional cat thieves use the same custom frameless hacksaw blade that we used on your car. With such a tool, the cats could be outta there in less than 5 hours. 
Actually it would have been nice if a thief could have done that for us.
First copper, now cats. What's next? Tires and weatherstripping?
Actually it would have been nice if a thief could have done that for us.
First copper, now cats. What's next? Tires and weatherstripping?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 843
Likes: 0
From: Albany Oregon
Yes, I wonder if the professional cat thieves use the same custom frameless hacksaw blade that we used on your car. With such a tool, the cats could be outta there in less than 5 hours.
Actually it would have been nice if a thief could have done that for us.
First copper, now cats. What's next? Tires and weatherstripping?
Actually it would have been nice if a thief could have done that for us.
First copper, now cats. What's next? Tires and weatherstripping?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,118
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
There's platinum in them, but it's spread so thin over the ceramic that it's like the silver that you'd get from a roll of photo film. I'm not even sure how much % return there is in professional reclamation. Unless it's in tons of crushed cats, I wouldn't think it would be worth a thiefs trouble.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 778
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth Texas
I started out with a hacksaw, then tried a cutting wheel on a drill. Very seriously considered whipping out the cutting torch (was getting a bit mad at it by then ). Finally did it proper. Dropped the exhaust (isn't that easy on a convertible (cross brace has to come off first)) and looked at it for a bit. Went inside and ordered a new front y-pipe with no cats and a high flow main cat to go with it.
I doubt you are going to get anything for the cats and don't really understand why any thief would even spend the time to try and yank them off. Even if they could get some money for them (which I seriously doubt would be much at all).......think about how long it would take to pull one off a vehicle (even a raised up 4wd truck). That doesn't even take into consideration the noise that would be made while doing it (lots of metal to bang wrenches and knuckles against around a cat).
Wouldn't hurt to take 'em to a junkyard and ask though.....never know until you try.
). Finally did it proper. Dropped the exhaust (isn't that easy on a convertible (cross brace has to come off first)) and looked at it for a bit. Went inside and ordered a new front y-pipe with no cats and a high flow main cat to go with it.I doubt you are going to get anything for the cats and don't really understand why any thief would even spend the time to try and yank them off. Even if they could get some money for them (which I seriously doubt would be much at all).......think about how long it would take to pull one off a vehicle (even a raised up 4wd truck). That doesn't even take into consideration the noise that would be made while doing it (lots of metal to bang wrenches and knuckles against around a cat).
Wouldn't hurt to take 'em to a junkyard and ask though.....never know until you try.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 584
Likes: 1
From: Near Lockport NY Black 1986 Coupe
From what I heard, the going rate for getting a cat from a junkyard is somewhere around $200. I'd imagine junking one would get you $70-80. May come in handy on returning the cost of those new exhaust upgrades. 
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 5
From: Sandhills of North Carolina
GF works in a industrial park close to Charlotte. In that park there is a mechanic shop. One night about 3 months ago thieves went through about 5 or 6 cars cutting the cats out. Must be worth something scraped out.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 7,338
Likes: 137
From: WilkesBarre PA
Local Kia dealer was hit this weekend. They unbolted about 30-40 cats off SUVs'. They are getting stolen alot. Some are worth $50-75 (scrap)
I took a few pup cats and a l98 main cat and got $150 for them. More than I thought.
I took a few pup cats and a l98 main cat and got $150 for them. More than I thought.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 778
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth Texas
Hadn't thought about the new car dealers. Dayum....the person with that mentality could get into a lot then post the goods on ebay auctions (or scrap them)!!!
That makes a lot more sense than trying to hit individuals in driveways or parking lots.
That makes a lot more sense than trying to hit individuals in driveways or parking lots.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,440
Likes: 19
From: SW Chicago Burbs IL
The criminals don't unbolt the cats when they steal them. They take cordless sawzalls and cut them off. It isn't their personal corvette. They don't care if they damage the car. They usually do it in large quantities (ie car dealers) and make quite a bit of coin off of it.
Matthew
Matthew
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 7,338
Likes: 137
From: WilkesBarre PA
The criminals don't unbolt the cats when they steal them. They take cordless sawzalls and cut them off. It isn't their personal corvette. They don't care if they damage the car. They usually do it in large quantities (ie car dealers) and make quite a bit of coin off of it.
Matthew
Matthew
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 3
From: Newark, New Jersey
when i totalled my ford escort, i got $70 for it at the scrap yard, and got $70 for the cat after my mechanic sawed it off. As i understand it has to be a factory cat, not aftermarket. The factory ones have more of whatever precious metal is in them.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 11,628
Likes: 1
From: Sherwood, Arkansas
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,440
Likes: 19
From: SW Chicago Burbs IL
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,118
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
I guess I haven't been paying attention! 
I had no idea this was such a big deal. As for cutting a pipe, I've got a cutter that is a chain with roller cutters on each link and two handles that lock onto any link I want. You just squeeze the handles like a big pair of channel lock pliers and roll the chain back and fourth a few times and "clink" the exhaust pipe is cleanly cut at a beautiful 90* in less time than it takes to read this! If thieves used a tool like this, they could clean off quite a few cats real quick and quietly too. What do we do now....Put drop down skirts on our cars & trucks when we park them to keep "Cat Burglars" out?
I had no idea this was such a big deal. As for cutting a pipe, I've got a cutter that is a chain with roller cutters on each link and two handles that lock onto any link I want. You just squeeze the handles like a big pair of channel lock pliers and roll the chain back and fourth a few times and "clink" the exhaust pipe is cleanly cut at a beautiful 90* in less time than it takes to read this! If thieves used a tool like this, they could clean off quite a few cats real quick and quietly too. What do we do now....Put drop down skirts on our cars & trucks when we park them to keep "Cat Burglars" out?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 223
Likes: 5
I have been told that cats not only have platinum in them, but they have something called irradium in them that is more valuable than platinum. I don't know if I spelled irradium correctly. After you remove the good stuff, scrap metal will probably be $500 a ton before too long.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Yeah, you'll probably get something for it, not too much like 60$ or so.
It is usually Meth addicts stealing this type of stuff, including ripping through houses for the copper in the wiring. Pretty much the worst drug out there right now. Good thing we spend more money cracking down on mary jane.... +1 Feds
It is usually Meth addicts stealing this type of stuff, including ripping through houses for the copper in the wiring. Pretty much the worst drug out there right now. Good thing we spend more money cracking down on mary jane.... +1 Feds