Been fixing other stuff , lolSo, fix the damn thing!
I picked it up before it was to become a boat anchor. LolMy machine is much older than yours, but the only side to side slop I have like that is the tail stock screw and excessive backlash on the Z axis. If I ran in to the problems you’ve had, I might make a boat anchor out of it.
You seem to have a lot of patience and determination to straighten things out.
I looked at the mill head briefly. Theres a little adjustment for the ZAn abused machine is a challenge.
I'm sure my z axis is way beyond .008. I have been unable to find any adjustment. It doesn’t have the mechanism that the 1220xl has.