My own opinion:
Wait on changing the timing belt til next year, unless you drive many miles a year. Spend the time to find a very trustworthy Alfa mechanic who is skilled in the 164 timing belts. This is the big ticket item, and you want it right.
Check the suspension/steering to see what might have deteriorated. Might take new lower suspension arms, but that's not expensive (about $90 each or so, with new bushings), and you can do the replacement work yourself, if you have worked on cars before. You can also rebuild the struts, the large dia bearing has a tendency to bind and jump with a bang in turns if it gets very dirty. Lousy design. The tie rods last a long time. Check alignment (toe) front and rear.
Change plugs, and clean and use dielectric grease on every electrical connection in engine bay, including those under the air filter box. Haven't heard of the split hose problem much on the LS. Not expensive to fix, though.
Run on the winter tires until later. The new ones don't wear nearly as fast as the old versions.
Rust, you have rust? Oh yes, salty Detroit. Personally, I'd have the rust areas fixed before they become too much to handle.
Save your money if you plan on keeping an Alfa 164. Difficult to maintain such a car in your rust producing area if you are on a tight budget, and drive it all year.
Wait on changing the timing belt til next year, unless you drive many miles a year. Spend the time to find a very trustworthy Alfa mechanic who is skilled in the 164 timing belts. This is the big ticket item, and you want it right.
Check the suspension/steering to see what might have deteriorated. Might take new lower suspension arms, but that's not expensive (about $90 each or so, with new bushings), and you can do the replacement work yourself, if you have worked on cars before. You can also rebuild the struts, the large dia bearing has a tendency to bind and jump with a bang in turns if it gets very dirty. Lousy design. The tie rods last a long time. Check alignment (toe) front and rear.
Change plugs, and clean and use dielectric grease on every electrical connection in engine bay, including those under the air filter box. Haven't heard of the split hose problem much on the LS. Not expensive to fix, though.
Run on the winter tires until later. The new ones don't wear nearly as fast as the old versions.
Rust, you have rust? Oh yes, salty Detroit. Personally, I'd have the rust areas fixed before they become too much to handle.
Save your money if you plan on keeping an Alfa 164. Difficult to maintain such a car in your rust producing area if you are on a tight budget, and drive it all year.