Thanks so much you guys! My mechanic, Broadway German Auto Service in Long Beach, felt that I made an excellent choice, and his validation was a huge relief. I trust him.
He said the car was very well maintained--new Bilsteins all around, new starter, engine mounts, and a noteworthy lack of rust even on parts that routinely show it. I am going to need brake pads sometime before the end of the summer depending on driving. The seller included a set of OEM pads, which is exactly what my mechanic would have ordered--he's not big on ceramics. Right now I am not thrilled with the way the brakes feel--a bit spongy and not as responsive as I am used to, so I am going to get this done ASAP.
I had all the belts replaced--some were a bit cracked, probably from the harsh temperature extremes in CT, and all fluids replaced, including power steering and radiator fluid. Oil change, too. He put in a new shift bushing, and the expansion tank for the radiator was cracked, so that was replaced as well. (He tried to explain what a shift bushing was, but I didn't get it. I'll have to look it up. I really want to learn my parts!)
One of the many reasons I trust my mechanic is that he takes the time to tell me what I need to budget for in the future, so we have a long-term plan of attack. Around the end of the year, depending on my driving, I am looking at ball joints and upper control arms. (Two more things I need to look up!)
Next year, he said we should look at replacing the drive shaft flex disc and consider a new muffler. Apparently there's a tiny hole in mine. He said this is mostly about noise--and the car is so quiet now that I'm not too worried.
Oh and I have a tiny crack in my CV boot on the passenger side rear. No clunking noise or leaking. He said to watch for leaks or noise. I've heard that sound before on my old car.
He didn't seem too concerned about the timing belt. . . I may have to ask him when I go in for brakes. Can such a thing be checked, or is it more about just doing it at specific mileage increments?
DeliveryValve when you say that my 85 had "taller gear," do you mean that this part was actually taller? (Pardon my extreme ignorance--I want to learn this stuff.)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/3866256307_0369bd95ce_b.jpg
Is that a picture of the differential? And the rear axles connect to that, right?
Is it that round part that is taller--the bit with the teeth? I can't for the life of me understand how that affects torque--except for a smaller "circle thing" would rotate faster, all else being equal. Shouldn't have skipped physics in college!
Okay, so here's the tally:
Brake pads, in the next few months.
Ball joints (3) by end of year.
Upper control arms by end of year.
Drive shaft flex disc next year.
Muffler next year unless things get noisy sooner.
Unsure: CV boot and timing chain
This is about what I expected--I know it's a 28-year old car. What do you think?