exhaust

[banh mi]

i think i've read in previous forums that the 97 98 models have 2 cats... is that true?...if so do you remove one or both when you straight pipe the exhaust during installation?

[Jeff240sx]

Let me just start off by saying I know nothing about the exhaust on a s14a (97-98).  But I do know a lot about the s14 (95-96).
In a '96, which I have, there are 2 catalytic converter looking things.
The first, the one right behind the header, is a "resonator."  About 2 feet back, there is a catalytic converter.  
The resonator has honeycomb in it, and I think it is to pre-muffle the exhaust noise.
I know this because I ran over a huge rock on the way back from work, and had to replace it.  It was $550, and the catalytic converter was $950.  So I really dont think it does the same as a cat.
Then... from what I understand, the only major changes to the s14a were cosmetic, and not engine / exhaust.
So, in short, I dont think there are 2 cats on a s14a.
-Jeff