Converter Troubles

For starters, i'll try to avoid all newbie troubles and just say i'm a novice on car engines. So anyone who takes the time to help me out with this, i'll definitely appreciate the knowledge shared.

That said, i bought a used '97 Nissan 200SX SE 5-spd. Worked great for a while, but i've been having spiraling troubles. It started with the clutch cable, next came a short from a bogus alarm system practically dangling by threads, then came the alternator and battery troubles. All fixed and taken care of.

Where i'm at now is the catalytic converter. The dilemma i'm having is this: I can't straight-pipe it from the engine, or at least i don't think i can, because my manifolds are welded on directly to the converter. Here's a pic for specifics:
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/images/product_images/images/eastern/40287.jpg

Most converters are shooting one pipe in one pipe out, and in the rear. However mine is in the front, and has 2 manifolds shooting in with 1 coming out.

If i can straight-pipe it, i'd prefer to do that so i can get better flow. For that i'd need ideas.
If i can't straight-pipe it, should i risk knocking out the filter wall inside the converter? I want max output so i don't care to leave it in.

Also, i have X-mas options and before i go for looks, i want performance and upgrades. Recommends for engine/electrical work?

Thanks,
-Ichi

if you do a straight pipe on a stock motor... youll make more noise than youd gain in HP... not to mention its illegal. my suggestions is just do a nice exhaust and not touch the converter.

you could also do a header and put a cat down the exhaust pipe

Hmm, yeah. Well someone mentioned on another forum that that cat i was referring to is actually a precat. He also mentioned the header idea, but the problem with that is that the engine i'm running isn't really built for performance, and although he mentioned that a header for it does exist, they can be hard to find.

My engine is 1.6 liter, and the car is SE, not SE-R. I think SE-R's are 2.0? Could a header from an SE-R engine fit on an SE engine?

no. it wont. iirc hotshot makes a 1.6l header. and you should post this in the correct forum.

no. it wont. iirc hotshot makes a 1.6l header. and you should post this in the correct forum.
the 200sx is categorized into this forum, unless there should be a specific range in years applied to the heading so as to differentiate between an older 200sx and a newer sentra?

240SX/Silvia/200SX(RWD)/Gazelle/180SX

or am i missing something?

The S12 was a 200sx.

The 200sx hes talking about isnt an s-chassis.
He belongs here:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=207

i should have just underlined the RWD part.

and the S chassis line up is sold as the 200sx for AUS new cars.

The S12 was a 200sx.

The 200sx hes talking about isnt an s-chassis.
He belongs here:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=207
That's kind of what I was getting at with my question.


I'll move this when I get back, I have to run.