removing balance shafts and other n00b questions

[Melt]

This is my first post on here so please go easy on me, i did a search and couldnt find anything about the balance shafts in the faqs.

My last 2 cars have been hondas, and im right now in the process of selling my 94 accord because it has a few problems i dont want to fix. Ive been looking at integras, but a friend of mine had a 94 eclipse base back in high school and i always liked that car. Im told the turbo ones are reliable as anything else, and the crankwalk everyone talks about really only becomes an issue if you are pushing some serious power.

Anyways allow me to get to the point. While searching my local classifieds i came across this awd 92 laser http://www.craigslist.org/eby/car/71769065.html

It looks immaculate, the miles are low, and the motor is new. In the description it says the balance shafts have been removed. I was wondering what purpose this serves and if this has made the car less reliable in any way.

And if you guys could give me a general yay or nay on the car itsself i would appreciate that also. The car blue books for $2800 and hes asking like 35 so i will prob meet him somwhere in the middle because of all the new parts he has put on it. This car appeals to me because it would be nice to have something fast, my accord and civic i had before that both run 17s

im not planning on heavily modding this car, because i dont know much about it yet, but maybe if i get it and hang around this message board more you guys can convince me otherwise. If nor cal has "meets" i would love to come to one

One more noob question, what kind of gas do i gotta put in this thing? Im guessin premuim

Edit: Also how much room is in these things, im 6' 6"

 

[tstkl]

i put 91 in mine

im almost 6 foot and dont notice any problems, but 6 inches is a lot.. i can say this tho.. you wont fit in the back... i dont....

check the build date, if it was made before may of 92 then it would have had a 6 bolt engine stock, who knows what the previous owner put in, but 6 bolt engines can hold more hp on stock internals...either way it will have the 4 bolt rear, which is better than the 3 bolt in my car...but if your not planning to mod i dont think it will matter... btw crank walk is a problem that basically only exists in the second gen cars.. but actually exists in every car on the road... its just the second gen dsm's were much more prone to getting crank walk...

removing the balancing shafts takes a lot of extra weight off the engine... adding power to the wheels...

that car looks clean, but get it checked out by a mechanic... and find out as much as you can about that salvage title...

i live in nor cal too, there are a lot of meets, although i havent been to one yet... my caps blew and now my ecu is dead cuz its got acid all over it... which btw i recomend replacing the caps or finding out the last time they were replaced... cuz this is a bi***... and everyone thinks your car is unreliable as hell and makes fun of you for it.. i hate immature highschool kids... annoying as f*ck

 

[Melt]

haha i rode in the back of my friends 94 but i was only 6' back then and it was cramped

salvage doesnt bother me too much, but yea i guess having it checked out by a mechanic wouldnt be a half bad idea if i decide to get serious about it.

im not too worried what my friends think of it or any of my cars ... i just remind em its paid for and i bought it myself and that pretty much shuts em up

 

[Savage Talon]

It looks clean and it looks stock, I see that as a plus. But that is way to much for a salvage laser. The Laser is the least valued of the dsm's. You can find a better deal for sure. I would'nt pay more $1,500 for it. But hey everybody has diffrent values.

 

[Melt]

in that case i will prob pass it by. Blue book is 2800 and thats assuming clean title. Im only toying with the idea of a dsm right now, i drive A LOT and ca gas aint exactly cheap so i might stick to my original plan which is an integra ls.

Edit: Oh shit savage talon youre from sonoma right ... i seen you over on bayareatuners.com

 

[burnmfburn]

I have a 93 Laser no complaints and as far as the gas mileage is concerned how does 35mpg sound that is what I was getting from KY to GA on the highway. And as far as an integra goes I would not just because its a Honda but that's me I love my DSM to much time and money invested

 

[Xeiros]

From what I've read, it's not so much to do with weight loss, but more to the fact that you don't have to worry about the BS belt breaking and taking your timing belt out as well.

 

[boostin92awd]

From what I've read, it's not so much to do with weight loss, but more to the fact that you don't have to worry about the BS belt breaking and taking your timing belt out as well.

Yes that is the main reason for removing the balance shaft,so you are actually increasing reliability rather than taking away.