$1300 for OEM catalytic converters?

[GregLCA]

I'm starting to hear the telltale rattles and whistles under the truck of what is certainly a perforated exhaust system...

I know that the OEM front pipes from Toyota (with the integrated Cats) are something like $1300 each, and I have no interest in spending that kind of money for exhaust repairs.

I think the factory system is either mild-steel or an aluminized steel. I was thinking about building something myself using 304 stainless (U-bends and J-bends are available from places like Summit Racing) and using some nice quality stainless V-band clamps to connect the various sections..... I just like the idea of doing a "lifetime exhaust" material and being done with stupid pinhole leaks, heat shield rattles and rusty O2 bungs forever.

Searches showed a company called EMS as a supplier, but they seem to have gone out of business. Is there any vendor making full stainless exhausts to fit the LandCruiser?

Or... Has anyone here done a really nice aftermarket system that they can post some photos of? I'm curious to see how people deal with the cats, and keeping the truck quiet and smog-legal.

Thanks!

-G

 

[ton504]

I think magnaflow has oe replacements around 500ea

 

[1meancruiser]

+1 on magnaflow. Quality product, they've been doing it along time and they are high flow cats so you may even pick up power...

 

[aging fleet]

Prior to buying my LC, I drove an Audi S8. When one of the cats failed, I had both replaced with Magnaflow units. They worked fine for the 2 years I owned the car and it never threw an O2 code.

 

[Supra88]

You sure it's not the heat shield or a loose O2 sensor?

 

[GregLCA]

You sure it's not the heat shield or a loose O2 sensor?

I think it IS a loose O2....

My wife has been the primary driver of the LC for the last 5 years or so, and she keeps bringing it in for exhaust noises. They keep saying the O2s are coming loose. I'm not sure if that's just the heating/cooling cycles backing them out, or if it's that there isn't any good metal left for them to hold on to!!!

I havent had a chance to poke around under there yet to confirm exactly what's wrong, but I figured I'd at least start getting some ideas and photos to study.

 

[Supra88]

I had the same thing, hence the reason I asked. I had the Hundy in to replace the crappy EMS muffler with a Magnaflow and the tech told me I needed new cats. I didn't believe it. I brought it home and inspected it myself. It was an O2 sensor that was missing a nut and the other was backed off about 1/8" and was terribly corroded. I put a new nut on and the problem was solved. Cats are fine.