Here is a pretty important question. How much do you want to spend?
I think you are getting way ahead of yourself as it is very easy to do when you first get your car.
Take a step back and stop worrying about all that motor stuff. Like others have said, check the compression etc, do a full tune up, then move on from there.
You also need to consider how much money you can afford to spend right now. Not a year or two down the road. If all you can spend right now is a grand or so then get some gears, exhaust, and a shifter and enjoy the car.
It is all relative, but just as many others have said and I will say with them, have a plan for your car because it makes things 10 times easier.
