Sounds like a smoke machine is more trouble than it's worth. I'd be concerned / leary about the chemicals used to produce the smoke being corrosive to the internal engine components. Best bet if you don't have the leak test equiment is the propane trick (described previously) which I've used extensively in the past checking for vacuum leaks. I've found plenty of leaking Cruise control units and Brake Booster units this way... While you're conducting visual inspection, this allows you the "opportunity" to clean road grime and grit off of all the induction components as well. You get into that "might as well" mode, if you know what I mean! You could always install a dual air intake while you're at it... Pay close attention to those By-Pass valves, after 20+ years, they could be going a little south (or worse) by now... The By-Pass valves are factory boost pressure relief valves that prevent an over-boost condition. The waste gate is the "primary defense" against over-boost, that the By-Pass Valves work in conjunction with as a "back-up". After 20 years of operating in a humid enviornment, the diapham springs could be getting weak or out of adjustment. And like any other piece of rubber on these 20+ year old vehicles, the rubber diapham could be developing cracks as well. Perform a functional check on the valves to ensure proper operation. Check around this site, there are some websites refererenced here on this site, where you can download a factory service manual (for free). One of the first things I did when I purchased my Z was print-out the manual. It's about 4 inches thick! Tons of good info inside it along with good troubleshooting /diagnostic advice as well.
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