Replace Catalytic Converter on a 2002 Prius

I posted that on the Prius Techical Stuff Yahoo group, but I'll post here too - reply wherever you like...

I just bought a salvaged cat converter - the whole 9 yards of it
(almost).

This web site that I found thanks to the forum members here has good
photos of it:

http://www.artsauto motive.com/ PriusConverter. htm

Not sure what that aftermarket conversion would cost, but I figure it
will not be less than $200 since I can't weld it myself and a shop
would need to do it.

My part comes at $350 in supposedly good condition and low miles
(under 30K) with the downstream sensor included. Of course, shipping
for this 6 foot monster is another $100 to where I live and the
Toyota OEM gaskets and nuts/bolts I anticipate I will need will add
another $30 or so at least.

Any "gotchas" when swapping the thing on my '02 Prius? Any other
thoughts?

Not sure how I did on price, but my goal was to get the whole thing
in one piece (not have to weld and fit will be 100% OK), and have
another up to 100K miles life left in it...

Will post some photos when the part is delivered and as I do the
swap. Having recently had to remove and reinstall the entire exhaust
from my 120K miles '00 Camry (in order to replace a failed auto
transmission) I have a good idea of what to expect in terms of rust
and hard to get off nuts - The exhaust on my 120K miler '02 Prius
looks in somewhat worse shape but that should not matter as the whole
thing is coming off the car - all it should matter is to be able to
remove the front two (or three?) bolts with springs that hold it to
the exhaust manifold without having to drill them out ...

 

About recycling the old converter

Another question - does anyone have information on how to
recycle the original cat converter? The person who is selling me the
salvaged one says that the inside of the converter can be sold for
recycling for about as much as I paid for the entire part. I guess it
is easier for him to ship it to me than to dismantle it if what he
says is true about the price of these on the recycling market...

Do these recyclers buy from private parties like myself? Do I need to
take out and send them only the converter insides? What would they
pay for it?

Thanks!

EDIT ----->
Well, a brief internet search reveals that I should expect $40-$80
dollars for the cat converter from recyclers who buy them. At least
that's what I saw listed on some of their web sites and what thieves
seem to be getting for their stolen converters according to the LA
Times -

Not much but will cover the non-reusable parts I would need (gaskets
and bolts/nuts/springs)...

If anyone thinks I can do better than say $50, let me know...

 

Here is the writeup: Toyota Prius Catalytic Converter and Muffler - Exhaust Replacement for DTC Code P0420 Photo Gallery by Mihail Popov at pbase.com

Still working, now I'm at close to 160K miles on the car. Unfortunately, the car is apparentl.y very sensitive - when I have my car rack on top and a kayak or two on it, I still get the P0420 on the highway. If I remove the rack, apparently the aerodynamics of the car is so much better that I do not get the code. I'm just living with it now - no point in trying to 100% fix that as long as it works fine without the rack. Before I did the replacement, I was getting the code even without the rack....