Hey everyone! Been doing some reading on here, because Im looking into buying my first z car. I've always wanted one, and admired the looks of them, but the opportunity never presented itself.
So the car is an 82 280zx turbo. link: craigslist ad

I asked my friend who is good with forced induction engines, he said some main things to look for with the turbo setup would be blue smoke, and if I can see it, check out the exhaust side of the turbo, looking for cracks.
I'm good with cars, and know what kinds of sounds to keep away from, but is there anything in particular that these cars are notorious for that I should check? Thanks for any help I get!

 

The main show stopper issue with these cars - rust. Seriously - find a solid car and the rest is cake. Parts are cheap and plentiful for all other issues. The L series engine is pretty bullet proof and although some of the engine troubleshooting may seem daunting it's pretty basic...

If that car is solid, wasn't a 2+2 and was local to me I'd buy it in a heartbeat for that price but a solid S130 is a rare beast on the Wet Coast...

 

Rust ! ! ! Then wireing issues. . . . . Take it for a lengthy test drive from whenn car was cold start. . . . You show up and the car has already been ran tell them you will be back later after its cold. Make sure all electrical parts work horn lights ect. . . . Other than that your pretty safe its a 30 + year old car so it will need some work down the pike for sure. . . . . Lotta of people seem to have starting issues I had my 79 through that issues. . . . So cold start the car should fire up first time. . . . . Run it for 15 20 miles get her hot also check oil and rad for signs of head gasket issues. . . .

 

I would be a little skeptical with this car, if he took the speedometer out then it might mean he messed with the odometer, and i think the odometer on the ZX can be rewound to lower the miles.

 

Okay, heres an update:

Went to look at the car today, bad news Rust bubbles on surface by the gas fill, and under the windshield, both the hatch and the t-tops leak, the engine sounds like its skipping a little, as well as what sounds like loose valves. the speedo sits at 20 when its off, and the fuel gauge is off by an unknown amount, and someone made a rear deck, but made it so you cant get to the spare tire well, so I can't see if there is any rust, but I'm assuming there is...
Also rust on the hatch..and finally the check engine light was on.

So I think its back to looking.. :-/

(he also won't go below 1400)

 

Look for a perfect body Z. . . . . With a blown engine or other majoir prob these can be bought for 6 to 800.00 once you get the bod find a replacement engine. . . . . 6 to 800.00 so 1600 to 2 grand you got a car worth 5 to 6 I learned the hard way but made out like a bandit! 600.00 rotted out datsun guy put a brand new engine in then did media blast found how gone it was so I was going to do the body work. . . . Long story short wound up finding a 600.00 blown mint condition t top a 18 yr old kid living in a 500'000.00 house let me steal since he got a 525 I bmw from daddy. . . . So play your cards. . . . Non running zs are only worth up to a grand!! And engine costs the same