[rich]

Sounds like good progress.
Why three cylinders? Bad plug or wire or something? Something easy I hope. Tough to scrounge parts (fan)on a holiday weekend. I had a thought about your shift trouble. If your engine is shaking badly from a cylinder miss this may cause linkage trouble. Check your mounts and watch the engine for excess movement. How soon til you have to go back to school? Are you planning to try to drive the car there?