Cat Scrap Fever

(with apologies to Mr. Nugent)

I was just wondering how to check to see if a catalytic converter is worth anything. If it's heavy or light; rattles doesn't rattle; you can or can't see through it. What do you look for?

I'm cleaning up the garage and thought I'd try my luck at getting a bit of cash for some of my leftovers.

thanks, Stan

The way it works here is you have to take them to a local metal recycler, then they send them off to determine the content and how much to give you. Some are worth a lot more that others. I have a few to send off. Last time I went the scrapper said they weren't bringing much, so I just held onto them.

Rattles = bad; means the matrix of Magic Stuff that the exhaust passes through has come apart.

I don't think the weight of the device changes through use; it's a catalyst, not a filter, so it isn't made to get full of goop.

I have no idea if you're supposed to be able to look through one. I would think so, but I don't know. It's a good question, though, and I hope somebody knows the answer!

Considering that it's against the law to sell used catalysts at a recycle yard, your cat is basically scap value.

So, assuming the substrate is still there- not melted or busted up into dust- the core metals are still there. And the scrap value should be based on the year and model of what it came off of- since over the years, the amount of platimum, palladium, and rhodium have changed quite a bit.

You should be able to see through them (it will be a small view to see, since they are a straight substratem, and if there are two bricks in the catalyst, it's unlikely that they will line up). But, again, if there is a ceramic substrate, the core metals should still be there.

When you over temp, but not so much to melt the ceramic- the metal just sinters together- it doesn't go away. And if it's covered in phosphorus, sulphur, or lead- again, the metals are still there- just covered up too much to be efficient.

alfadriver wrote: Considering that it's against the law to sell used catalysts at a recycle yard, your cat is basically scap value.

It is? For them to sell them, or you to sell the cat to them?

Here in Canada, at least in Ontario, scrap yards buy them. Where I take mine, they pay on the spot, based on the size, and if it is original, or aftermarket.

Stan,

I put one from and old CRX up on craigslist a little while back and sold it for $50 in no time. I have no idea what condition it was in. Didn't rattle IIRC. Don't think I could see through it either.

Jacques

That's what this is off of too.

One of the guys here at work just took one in from a Caddy and got $150...

stan wrote: That's what this is off of too. One of the guys here at work just took one in from a Caddy and got $150...

Thats why fleet guys show up on Monday mornings to a compound full of missing cats.

HappyJack wrote:

alfadriver wrote: Considering that it's against the law to sell used catalysts at a recycle yard, your cat is basically scap value.

It is? For them to sell them, or you to sell the cat to them? Here in Canada, at least in Ontario, scrap yards buy them. Where I take mine, they pay on the spot, based on the size, and if it is original, or aftermarket.

it's ilegal for them to sell it to you. they can buy them, and they should be able to sell them to other recycling centers to get the precious metals off of them.

Although, knowing about catalyst theft, I wonder how much of a second thought they give to some guy off the street trying to sell a catalyst.

Not sure about the legality, but there are a bunch of CL ads here from buyers.

cwh wrote: Not sure about the legality, but there are a bunch of CL ads here from buyers.

resale shops can not resale catalysts.

I don't know about the laws for personal sale, but even if it were ilegal, the federal body that can enforce that law really doens't have much they can do about it. Companies are a lot easier to go after, especially ones with shaky environmental back grounds.

FWIW...

OEM cats net a whole lot more money then ANY after market cat. The difference is the purity and quantity of the precious metals in the cats.

This is from my local scrap yard. Great people down there.

I love scrapping cats. Anytime i buy a cheap car i figure between the scrap value of the car and the scrap value for a cat if i can break even its a good deal to buy the car. Hence me buying every vehicle under $300 haha

Cotton wrote: The way it works here is you have to take them to a local metal recycler, then they send them off to determine the content and how much to give you.

Just like Cash For Gold.

its perfectly legal to sell them for scrap. Its not legal to sell a used cat to reuse on a car. We cut the mounting flanges off our Miata cats and put them on ebay. you need to take a screw driver and touch the screen and then transfer the mark to the outside with paint or w/e so the buyers can see what they are buying. Ebay rules will NOT let you list what kind of car they came off of, your ad will be bounced (and you still pay for it) you CAN list that it is a foregn cat (pays more) I normally hold a tape measure on it for reference. after market cats are not worth the time it takes to list them. but imagine how small a miata cat is. we have sold them anywhere from 50-125 each depending on the market or scrap.

here is a sample of how you need to list them. this was both a 1.6 and a 1.8 cat http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300425405282&viewitem=