I have searched forums but still could you some customized advice. This is a long post but hope members of the forum can help.

Car is 1985 245, stick, NA, 235K miles. Mechanically very sound but a rust bucket. Got it for $500 in 1999. Have put about 2K in maintenance since 1999 (OD unit, idle controller, timing belt, etc.) Use it as "first" car for my children during their first couple of years driving. Now my daughter is starting. I personally love the car. Kids love it also. "Surfer dude" car with appropriate racks and decals.

Suspension is OEM. Don't know status of shocks (age or model). Sway bars measure 20mm front and 17mm rear to my crude measurement. Springs original and bushings rubber. Steering rack tight.

I would like to "tighten up" the feel of the car without breaking the bank. I will not be doing the work. It will be done at reputable private shop.

Please help with the following thinking:

Urethane bushings - Probably high priority. If these are done will I have paid for most of the labor to replace sway bars?

Shocks - My research indicates that Bilstein "touring" shocks probably would be good cost/performance compromise. I do not want to spend $400-500 on shocks. Other suggestions?

Sway bars - IPD seem to be overkill. Used $150. Volvo "turbo" sway bars $100. Will these really make a difference over stock sway bars now on car? Is just replacing the bushings the major improvement.

Springs - Leave alone.

Connectors (strut and frame)- Overkill for this project.

I live in an area where an ebayer has relationship with local wrecking yards and odometers, tachs, turbo sway bars and springs all get taken off very quickly so I cannot use local yards as cheap parts source.

Thanks for any help
Howard
1985 245
1993 945T