So we basically inherited a '97 SE with 140+K on the clock. Here's what I've replaced so far:

hood struts
air filter
tires with new Bridgestone RE960 A/S
front endlinks
front brakes (new rotors and pads)
all 4 struts and associated bits and pieces
both belts
alternator (it died on me)

I have new rear calipers, pads and rotors waiting to go on.

The car feels and rides so much better than when we picked it up. As you can see, I've invested a lot so far, probably what it was worth. Can anyone think of anything else I should look closely at?

The control arms are quite rusted, but after the strut and end link replacement , everything feels a million times better. The only thing I can comment on is a slightly vague feeling with a little wobble coming through the steering wheel when on center at highway speeds (I'm not sure that wasn't an issue in a new one), other than that it is driving like a dream.

 

Did you have the front end aligned after the struts were replaced?

 

Sure did!

 

check the lower rad. support for rust

 

Congrats on the Max. I rehabbed my '98 SE last fall, at that time it had close to 168K, also did:

- new complete exhaust (wanted to keep it OE-like)
- new o2 sensors
- new shocks/struts/control arms/endlinks (alignment done of course)
- new brakes/rotors/calipers/hoses
- new foglights (for functionality, both got busted up beyond repair)
- new driver-side halfshaft (passenger side was replaced last spring, upon inspection last fall it was found the driver side was almost gone)
- new set of tires (michelin primacy mxv4)

now have over 180K+ on my 98, keeping it as a spare. HUGE diff. done when the above-mentioned stuff was done. not sure what else might go at this high of a mileage