Just confirming before I mess up and have to start over, but I'm installing the MillerCat CatShield on my daughter's 2010 today and it looks like the catalytic converter is a bit more toward the front of the car than the back, so I was planning to put the front up on my ramps. Is that the right way to go with that? Toyota Prius Gen 3 (2010-2015)– MillerCAT Corp
It'll still be a very tight fit under there. Use some cutting oil when drilling through the frame rails for the rear attachment fasteners, I didn't and the oil would've made the process much faster. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
"Is that the right way to go with that?" No. Jack stands and a floor jack, or you are not going to have ANY fun at all... Along with the cutting oil (any medium weight oil is better'n no oil), also suggest tipping the hole locations with a pointed punch before drilling so your holes end up where you want them to. Because it'll be overhead, the oil can be applied with a small brush as you drill.
6 ton jack stands (for some elbow room for the rivet tool and drill, and then you’ll need a decent lift 3 ton jack, to raise high enough to place the stands. These locations for the jack stands work well, more solid/stable than the scissor-jack locations: I find I always get a sore neck lying under there, so bring an old football, to use as a pillow. No kidding...
Wow, good tips guys, thanks! I'll use the punch. I have jack stands and a jack, so may try those first.
"...so bring an old football, to use as a pillow." (there should be a 'thumbs-up on here, no kidding) Also! Bring good eye protection; there'll be beaucoups metal filings from the drilling.
In cases of having the car on ramps or jack stands to install the Miller Cat shield , the regular pliers type rivet nut tool will not have enough clearance to work. My friend makes this one for low clearance applications.
So, I'm reporting partial success with the ramps/jack process. I made some mistakes though and additional work is needed. I inadvertently drilled out the hole for the O2 sensor bolt...then put a rivet nut in there...it's now zip tied in place. Not ideal, but I don't think it will be an issue. I temporarily installed the plate, carefully marked the rear holes. Drilled them out and put the rivet nuts in...then tried to permanantly install the plate only to find that one of the holes was not lined up properly. I don't think there's enough space to drill a new hole/rivet nut, so I'm going to go back this weekend and drill a hole in the plate (stainless steel, may not be fun) to line up with the rivet nut. Right now it's just loose. Also, I think I cross threaded the other rear bolt and it is jammed in and I stripped the inside of the bolt head, so it can't be removed and replaced. May see if MillerCat will send a replacement at some point and I'll retry that, but for now it's secure enough. A real overhead lift would have made a massive difference. Otherwise it's certainly a DIY project.
Dr Ev, Sorry to hear the installation was not intuitive for your Gen 3. The problems you mentioned above are things that most every mechanic deals with all the time and have typically found useful short cuts to work around them. Not always the case for most DIY amateurs. I just watched the miller cat shield install vid at the tube and now I know for sure, it's probably not as easy as it looks in the video. Thanks for sharing. 2010-2015 Toyota Prius Gen 3 Cat Shield Installation Video
