[guinnessjim]

so i was out in LV looking for rentals and at some point, someone used a saw to cut ~2ft section of my exhaust (incl. the converter) off my truck (i drive a '92 4runner). i don't know where it happened, as i looked at multiple properties and left my vehicle unattended for about an hour a parking lot on Flamingo (near Swenson/UNLV/DRI).

while i am pissed off about the theft, i am more curious as to how the truck was rigged so that i drove around LV for who knows how long and managed to get ~40miles on I-15 b4 the deafening roar of my exhaust alerted me to something being wrong.

anyone know anything about this? could they (the thief/thieves) have rigged a hose or something in place of the missing exhaust? could this have been done quickly enough to be temporarily functional? if so, why go through the extra effort?

my guess is this is what happened, and i guess it is in a thief's best interest not to have the victim be able to place exactly where the crime happened...anyone else have any thoughts?

thx

[lvknight]

While it doesn't surprise someone woud steal just the exhaust, I've never heard of it happening. Strange. Maybe they shoved someting up the tailpipe like wadded up foil or a rag that finally blew out. I don't know how just a hose would muffle the sound. But then again, I am by no means an auto mechanic and I thought the only way to cut back on the noise was the muffler. Sorry to hear about the damage to your car.

[guinnessjim]

yeah...i hadn't heard of it either, but the guys at the shop knew exactly what had happened when i told them there was a missing piece of exhaust (in particular the catalytic converter) off a 4runner...apparently it been happening a bunch around LA (i live here for another couple of weeks).

and my first thought was something was put into the exhaust also, but it seems to me that nething that could muffle the sound would also noticeably effect performance...but i am not a mechanic either.

strange.

[jksouthbay88]

Well it is common here in San Diego.Not as much as it was around 2000-2004 but it happens maybe about 3 times a month.There are a few reasons why.The main reason is now days a certain type of exhaust can help out on your MPG.Some exhausts can add anywhere between 3-9 MPG's!The other main reason would be street racing.SD is the birthplace of racing and named the "Street Racing Capital of America" by a number of magazines for a number of years.I'm pretty sure that they have a device that can prevent this type of crime from happening because it is a major problem.(Here in SD)Same with people stealing rims.That's another big crime out here as well.All I can say is good luck and I hope that neither one of these types of crimes become a problem out there in the valley.

[jfkIII]

Jeeez! That is bad! A foreshadow of things to come? If you ask Olecapt...I'm sure he'll tell you that he never heard of such a thing and that no one he even remotely knows ever had this occur.

You gotta feel good, tho'....at least it wasn't a VIOLENT CRIME!

[sheriff]

Originally Posted by jfkIII

Jeeez! That is bad! A foreshadow of things to come? If you ask Olecapt...I'm sure he'll tell you that he never heard of such a thing and that no one he even remotely knows ever had this occur.

You gotta feel good, tho'....at least it wasn't a VIOLENT CRIME!

So, there's no hookers or catalytic converters thefts either?

[jfkIII]

Maybe they stuffed a hooker in his catalytic converter (or vice versa!)

[olecapt]

Contrary to the views expressed I do not doubt either hookers or catalytic converter thiefs. In fact I would think stealing the converter far more the interesting task....I mean you don't have to crawl under the hooker in public.

The intriguing thing is how do you do it? Unless there is one hell of a lot of clearance under a 4runner that has to be tough. You gotta crawl under and cut at least two exhaust pipes...not a hard thing to do...but with limited access? Specialized tools? Gas cutters? wow. I suppose you could jack the car up with a good hydraulic jack...but in a public garage. I would think they shoved a piece of tubing in to replace the converter. That is easy if you know enough to actually steal the converter. Likely would not last long at those temperatures but all they need is an hour or so of driving.

[billeethakid]

Originally Posted by olecapt

Contrary to the views expressed I do not doubt either hookers or catalytic converter thiefs. In fact I would think stealing the converter far more the interesting task....I mean you don't have to crawl under the hooker in public.

The intriguing thing is how do you do it? Unless there is one hell of a lot of clearance under a 4runner that has to be tough. You gotta crawl under and cut at least two exhaust pipes...not a hard thing to do...but with limited access? Specialized tools? Gas cutters? wow. I suppose you could jack the car up with a good hydraulic jack...but in a public garage. I would think they shoved a piece of tubing in to replace the converter. That is easy if you know enough to actually steal the converter. Likely would not last long at those temperatures but all they need is an hour or so of driving.

Correct, I think they may have used a piece of 2.5" PVC pipe or a very large diameter radiator hose with clamps to connect the missing piece. But what kills me is that the converter is worth $30 to a junkyard or someone that sells those to China for the platinum. Why would anyone in their right or even wrong mind for that matter crawl under a car, saw out 2 exhaust ends and replace the missing piece for $30-$40 tops? Is it really worth the jail time? C'mon guys, go get a real job. If I had found someone stealing my cat, someone would die... I don’t care if it was me, them, or both of us, someone would die, I know if it. Theft is a bunch of BS. I had gas stolen out of my car this winter, seems as if some guys near RPI college hooked up an electric fuel pump to a can and just siphoned it out of all the cars in the lot... BS!!!! End rant

[guinnessjim]

i guess this is pretty common w/ older 4runners as they do have a good amount of ground clearance (esp. if they are a 4x4 w/ AT tires and off road equip). and to hear the auto shop guys tell it, 1996 or later cat converters will fetch close to $100.

as for cutting it, i think a reciprocating saw would make quick (if not noisy) work of an exhaust pipe. an 18V battery powered one would be easy enuf to lug around, too.

regardless, i am looking at adding a little extra underbody armor to my truck to prevent future loss.

and capt: i'm no expert, but i think you have to pay extra to crawl under a hooker in public