Alan: One thing I've learned reading this forum is to buy your pistons before-hand and bring them with you to machine shop in order to get the proper fit. The boring and honing can't (or shouldn't) be done to spec but to the actual piece part.
The work that most of us do to our Cub Cadets includes, but is not limited to:
1. Going through the steering to take out any play, which often includes replacing the ball joints, the axle pivot pin, rebuilding the steering gear, and repairing the spindle bolts and bushings.
2. Replacing worn clutch parts and springs, including the drive shaft and/or drive hubs and connectors as well as resurfacing the clutch face.
3. Tire replacement is always a utility/user taste & style issue; and front wheel bearings frequently need replacement.
4. Most of us repaint our tractors to make them look pretty.
5. Gear drives often need attention at the gear shift lever and sometimes the axle seals (something they share with the hydrostatic models).
6. The seat often needs replacement or repair.
After these items, it just depends on how far you want to take it, if you want to add attachments and IH accessories that the tractor may not have originally shipped with but that you always wanted.
The dealer can sometimes be a source of useful information and parts, but you often find better service and more knowledge from online retailers like the sponsors of this site. They can frequently source parts no longer carried by MTD or the CaseIH dealer. For instance, the sponsor of this site is the best available source of information on which belts fit your tractor and its attachments; check out Charlie's FAQs link from the FAQ link at the top of this page, it is VERY informative.