One thing leads to another.....

Just wondering if any of you guys have noticed that one thing always leads to another. I bought my rodeo thinking that all it needed was front pads and rotors...and so far this is what I have done....
Sparks Plugs
distributor cap
ignition rotor
ignition coil
throttle body base gasket
fuel filter
oxygen sensor
front brake pads
front brake rotors
front calipers and brackets
and last tuesday I dropped it off at the transmission shop to have a new clutch and rear main seal installed, and one thing led to another and on monday I should be getting it back with a new slave and master cylinder as well, because both were shot. So it now also has a new clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, pilot bushing, rear main seal, flywheel turned, and a new slave and master cylinder...
What I still have left to do...
front drivers side cv shaft
front drivers side lower balljoint
valve cover gasket
and when he was doing the clutch he had to drop the exhaust down and one of the flanges broke, so its going to have an exhaust leak when I get it back until I get it fixed....
All in all, alot of the stuff that I have done is just regular maintnence, which was REALLY needed and you can tell that the previous owners never really did much maintnence at all to it....all I have to say is I got hooked up pretty good with the clutch job, all of that for only $275 labor plus parts which I bought myself, which of course were extremely expensive.... When all is said and done this vehicle will be perfect mechanically, and hopefully I wont have any more serious problems with it....

Mileage?

right around 166k, he said the clutch looked original and the slave cylinder being bad is probabaly what killed it, so thats pretty good for an original clutch if you ask me

I know the feeling, I bought my '99 in sept with 88k miles on it thinking I shouldnt have to do much. The guy I bought it from replaced the clutch, timing belt, and water pump the week before.

Since then I have..
Replaced tires
replaced shocks
replaced all 4 ball joints
replaced front pads (will need new rotors, good enough for now)
replaced both outter cv boots
replaced front spindle bearings and hub nuts (hub nuts had deep grooves worn into them)
made my own sway bar links (one original fell apart while doing ball joints)
replaced fuel sending unit
replaced starter
replaced trans, xfer, and diff fluids (were all original)
replaced relays for wipers (rear stopped working)
replaced serpentine belt
gave it what looks to be its first ever wax job
replaced stock stereo and rear speakers
replaced hitch receiver that was welded to the frame (couldnt fit spare underneith with it there)
repaired damage from bad trailer wiring job

Still have to do..
rear brake pads (maybe new rotors too)
front sway bar mount bushings
grease slip join on drive shafts (not sure about u-joints yet)
flush brake, clutch, and power steering fluids
replace battery clamps
replace body mounts (not sure how many, not the proper spacing to them though)
find what is clunking when I pull into/ back out of parking spaces
replace wimpy horn
fix torn seam in rear seat
shampoo interior (lots of grease stains)

Luckily I do all my own work so have saved alot in labor costs. A guy at work had the same front end work done to his F150, cost him $2200. It cost me $320 in parts and alot of frustration.

I hate when people dont take care of their vehicles. Makes it hard on us that buy used.

yeah you sound like you are in the same situation. Nobody ever took care of mine obviously, I do all of my own work too, and was going to do the clutch as well but being 20F outside, and not having my own garage to do things in makes it hard, and I figured it would be worth the money to save me the time and fustration of it all.

I'm in the same boat also. Bought my 97 rodeo 3.2L about a month ago with 92K miles on it. Looked great when I bought it and drove it home (1Hr drive). I then took it in to get new tires and thats when it all started. They told me that the lug bolts were all messed up with the wrong nuts and could not get 2 of the wheels off. He then told me that the bolts would probably break to get them off and would have to give another quote for that. Sooooooo, I told them to put the wheels back on and I will crawl home to my garage to commence work.

So far;
New tires
New center wheel covers (ebay cheap)
New lug bolts and nuts w/washers
both front CV shafts (all 4 boots torn for who know how long)
Font rotors & pads
New front caliper pins
One upper Ball joint
All new shocks
All new seals and bearings repacked (front axles)
Diff, trans and xfer fluids changed
engine flush and oil change
Repaired rear axle dust cover and painted
Drivers side mirror.

Still to do;
Timing belt, tensioner and water pump.
Check spark plugs

She'll be like new when I'm finished with her.