Stolen catalytic converter insurance questions?

Some dirtbags cut the cat off my 1996 Limited 4wd's cat last week. It was a surgical cut, and they were gone in less than 3 minutes.

My insurer, Liberty Mutual, is offering $1,015 to have a new one installed.

My questions are:

The dealer said they don't make the OEM for this anymore. Are aftermarket cats as good as the OEM? Do you recommend any one manufacturer over another? ie. Magneflow, Walker, etc?

It's especially aggravating because I replaced the muffler and exhaust line with Toyota OEM parts from the dealer 3 or 4 years ago. The damn muffler alone was $575. I've had it since it was new and it's been flawless over the last 30 years. I want to put quality parts back in it somewhat within the confine of the insurance payout, if that's even possible.

How did you all deal with your insurers, if it happened to you?

Thanks

 

I would get a quote for the work to be completed with OEM or "like OEM" (since yours is no longer made) and submit it to the insurance company.

 

Thanks. That's what I'm thinking, but I don't know enough about the aftermarket parts. Can anyone recommend a solid replacement they've used?

 

I've used a Magnaflow universal cat without issue before. Looks like they also have a "direct fit" version for the 1996 if you prefer.

 

I like "Walker" exhausts. Dont stress, your going to come out with some cash. My cat was actually replaced under a Toyota recall.

 

This is sad..

 

Straight pipe! Twenty bucks!

I mean… um… no, don’t do that. That’s not legal.

 

Run it raw and enrich the environment with a little extra special flumes here and there...

 

Was the front cat or rear cat stolen? Rear cat is unmonitored and can be deleted (i.e. weld straight pipe in its place) without causing a code if your state doesn't do visual emission inspections. I'm not sure if your rig being almost 30 years old is emissions exempt anyway.

 

Its got One Cat. Toyota did something to my exhaust manifold when I had it in for the valve cover gaskets. Not sure what they did. But from the cat forward looks almost new. Like they replaced it?
It was like $800.00.
Depending on where they cut it prob needs that too.