A Ford torpedo catalytic converter is worth $110 to $1,141 at scrap, making it the single most valuable converter type in the domestic market. The price depends on the number of internal “biscuits” (honeycomb bricks): 2-biscuit torpedoes bring $110-$400, 3-biscuit units $300-$700, and the coveted 4-biscuit torpedo can exceed $1,100. These oversized converters come from Ford F-250, F-350, E-Series vans, and other heavy-duty Ford applications.
| Grade / Item | Low | High | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low grade | $70 | $115 | USD/unit |
| Medium grade | $315 | $450 | USD/unit |
| High grade | $664 | $826 | USD/unit |
| Full published range | $110 | $1,166 | USD/unit |
| Country | Typical Range | Per Tonne | Cur. |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $50 – $450 /unit (typical OEM) | — | USD |
| Canada | C$65 – C$600 /unit | — | CAD |
| United Kingdom | £40 – £350 /unit | — | GBP |
| Germany / EU | €45 – €400 /unit | — | EUR |
| Australia | A$75 – A$650 /unit | — | AUD |
| India | ₹4,000 – ₹35,000 /unit | — | INR |
| UAE / Dubai | 180 – 1,600 AED /unit | — | AED |
Rates for every other converter are collected in the complete scrap metal price index.
What Makes the Ford Torpedo Special
Torpedo converters get their name from their elongated, capsule-like shape. They’re dramatically larger than standard catalytic converters, and they’re almost exclusively a Ford design, fitted to heavy-duty trucks and vans with V8 and V10 engines.
Inside the shell sit multiple honeycomb “biscuits,” each coated with platinum, palladium, and rhodium. More biscuits means more precious metal, and more precious metal means more money. That simple count is why one torpedo brings $150 while another identical-looking unit brings $1,100.
With rhodium trading near $10,000 per ounce, the PGM content in a 4-biscuit torpedo makes it the crown jewel of any scrap converter load. Buyers know it, thieves unfortunately know it, and now you know it too.
Torpedo Values by Biscuit Count
- 2-biscuit torpedo: $110 – $400
- 3-biscuit torpedo: $300 – $700
- 4-biscuit torpedo: $500 – $1,141
- Cut or damaged units: $60 – $250
- No readable serial: graded down to $100 – $350
- Aftermarket replacements: $15 – $40
The biscuit count isn’t guesswork. You can see the honeycomb bricks through the shell’s viewing slot or count the bulges along the body. Confirm the count before requesting quotes, because it’s the single number that defines your price tier.
Which Ford Vehicles Carry Torpedo Converters
F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks with the 5.4L V8, 6.8L V10, and gas-powered work configurations are the main source. The V10 units tend toward the 3 and 4-biscuit builds that command top dollar.
E-Series vans (E-150 through E-450) used torpedoes for decades. Fleet vans hitting the junkyard today are a steady supply of 2 and 3-biscuit units.
Excursion, F-450, and F-550 chassis vehicles carry the largest torpedoes. If you’re parting out a retired ambulance, shuttle bus, or U-Haul-style box truck on a Ford chassis, check underneath before the crusher does.
Standard F-150s generally do not use torpedo converters. Those carry conventional cats covered in our Ford F-150 catalytic converter scrap price guide.
Finding the Serial Number (The Hard Part)
Ford stamps the torpedo’s serial code behind a heat shield, visible only through a narrow slot. The code has three segments, formatted like 1C2C 5E212 AA, and every segment matters. A single letter difference in the final pair can swing the quote by hundreds of dollars.
- Locate the viewing slot on the heat shield.
- Cut the shield back above the slot with snips or a grinder to expose the full stamping.
- Clean corrosion with steel wool until every character reads clearly.
- Photograph the code straight-on plus the whole unit from multiple angles.
Buyers price torpedoes almost entirely from this code. Skipping the shield surgery and selling “as-is” typically costs you 40-60% of the unit’s real value.
Where to Sell a Torpedo Converter
Online Serial-Number Buyers
RRCats and similar platforms grade torpedoes by exact code against live PGM markets, and most offer price-lock guarantees plus free shipping. For a converter potentially worth four figures, this is the only channel that consistently pays what the unit contains.
Local Scrapyards
Walk-in yards often lump torpedoes into a generic “large domestic” grade that caps out around $250-$350. Fine for a damaged 2-biscuit, a giveaway for an intact 4-biscuit. Get the online quote first and use it as your floor.
Common Mistakes That Cost Torpedo Sellers
- Not counting biscuits: Selling a 4-biscuit at 2-biscuit pricing is a $500+ mistake.
- Skipping the heat shield cut: No full serial, no full price. Ten minutes of grinding protects hundreds of dollars.
- Cutting the torpedo itself: Never cut into the converter body. Cut units drop to the damaged tier instantly.
- Accepting generic “large cat” grading: The word torpedo should appear in your quote. If it doesn’t, find another buyer.
- No ownership paperwork: High-value converters get extra scrutiny under anti-theft laws in 31+ states. Bring your title, ID, and any work-order documentation.
Getting the Best Price
Count the biscuits, expose and photograph the full serial code, and collect quotes from at least two serial-number-based buyers before any yard visit. If you have multiple torpedoes from a fleet cleanout, mention the quantity since volume moves pricing on high-value units.
Watch rhodium before committing. Torpedo values amplify PGM moves more than any other converter because of their sheer metal content, so a strong rhodium week is worth waiting for. It’s the same market logic that governs every converter from Subaru cats to European luxury units, just with bigger numbers attached.
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- Ford F-150 Catalytic Converter Scrap Price 2026: Complete Value Guide
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