[chrismorse]

A 36 year old car can need just about anything.
To avoid huge repair bills, you need to know what condition the car is in, before you buy the car.
Before the PPI, (pre purchase inspection), get all available service receipts from the owner,so the mechanic can see 1 if the car was serviced regularly, 2, what major items were attended to, 3, any accident repairs, 4, any reoccurring leaks,electrical problems or ongoing issues. It is common practice for the mechanic to note on the receipt, any needed or upcoming repairs. These will be of interest to the PPI mechanic.
PPI
A tiny bit of rust is manageable, lots of rust is a deal killer.
You need to know what condition the engine is in, so a compression and leak down test are needed, (10 yoars ago, my dad spent $11,000 on a top end overhaul on his 74).
It would be helpful to you to have an understanding of what work needs to be to the car right now and in the future, oil leaks, axle boots, leaky exhaust, loose/worn suspension bushings, tires/alignment, brake condition.
Without a thorough PPI.........
Good luck
Chris