Catalyst theft

[Rob Bell]

The catalyst thieves have struck again! Second time I have been hit by this crime. The first victim was my 2001 Freelander, and now it was my MGF Project Shed that was targeted.

Really exceptionally annoying. The metropolitan police can't be bothered to look into this (unlikely to track down the culprits - and unfortunately, they're probably right).

The catalyst is one thing, but the other, even more upsetting thing is that they've wrecked a motorsport TT exhaust back box and an MGF Centre 4-2-1 stainless manifold

Basically the whole exhaust system has been trashed.

No idea why they decided to target a 25 year old MG? More valuable metals in Hybrid Toyotas etc.

Currently my plan is to take it to PowerSpeed in Kent. I'll probably get them to install a sports cat. Then I'll have a think about whether to repair or replace the existing manifold and back box assembly. As part of that, I'll also think about some kind of shield to make accessing the catalyst a little harder in future...

Keep your cars safe boys and girls!!!

[MrNatural]

Blimey! Sorry to hear this Rob. Can't believe they are picking on our older cars now

[Charless]

Sorry Rob, twice.
Unfortunately for us the mid 90s cats esp OEM have much more platinum in them and it makes them very desirable. Earlier this year I heard of £600+ being offered for an old MGF cat and £500 for an MX5 one by specialist catalyst recyclers. We have probably all heard of cars being 'failed' on emissions then the garage fitting a cheapo one (selling the old one on) which lets the car 'pass' but promptly fails the following year as the smear of platinum has long gone. The cats are worth more than many or our cars!

[mg-rob]

Exactly the same was attempted outside ours last night, caught them on video. Four men, all with hoodies, two standing in the road, one with knife! There is more to the events last night but I think we were lucky.
Was wondering about approaching someone like Mike Satur regarding a shield.
None of ours are OEM so really wouldn’t be worth that much surely!

[nigelandjo]

Sorry to hear of your woes Rob & Rob. One advantage of having the cars garaged

[Roverdrive]

Sorry to hear this,

Silly prices for OE cats, has made buying cheap cars to sell cat (and a few parts) and scrap them a thing, guess if it's got any value it has that 'money for nothing' value to a thief.

[Rob Bell]

Wow - you too Rob? Not good.

I shall get PowerSpeed to weld on some tabs to the back box so that I can bolt (with simple security fixings) a plate that will hinder future attempts at theft. Trouble is, I have two MGFs - so will need to think to do the same on N7 too...

[Rob Bell]

Dropped off to PowerSpeed in Kent on Thursday. Thanks I’ll get them to mount a skid plate between the back box and subframe. Should deter future theft attempts…

[mg-rob]

Would like to see photos of the skid plate if possible Rob? It’s something that I will have to have a look at for the cars that are left outside.

[Rob Bell]

No problem - I'll post when it's done. I'll need to do something similar for my other "90s classics"!

[mg-rob]

Thanks Rob, I look forward to seeing what can be done.

[Rob Bell]

The repair job is finished - in fact Lee finished it on Friday, but I haven't had time to post, let alone pick up the car... so no pictures yet, but will take some pictures of the skid plate and I'll look to see whether I can replicate something similar on my more standard MG.

[Rob Bell]

A as couple of pictures can tell a story of a thousand words. Here’s some quick pictures of the skid plate: a set of security head M8 bolts on their way…

[mg-rob]

Thanks for posting the photos Rob, these work a treat
I think that I need to have a look at this just for the car that lives outside.

[Rob Bell]

It should be quite a simple fabrication project. The forward edge is attached with welded tabs to the rear subframe tubular section, and the rearmost edge is via simple "L" brackets bolted through the boot floor.

I'm in the process of replacing the Zinc plated 8.8 M8 bolts with A2 stainless security bolts - just to add to the dis-incentive factor to a would be thief

[Kasper]

Hmmm, does not come in well with: Shed weight add lightness. Sorry to read your story Rob.

[Rob Bell]

It doesn't really does it

However, I always look for a silver lining. The catalyst is now a 150-cell sports catalyst. I've had the back box raised up a bit and the cat is actually welded to the flexi-section of the exhaust manifold and the back box - eliminating two bulky flanges and a short length of pipe to ensure that the exhaust exists in roughly the right place. The skid pan then also tidies up the rear air flow that the previous position of the exhaust back box tended to mess up - so hypothetically, there should now be less rear lift...

[Kasper]