Congrats on putting in the work with dogged determination - exactly what is necessary to tackle a project such as this.
The absolute most important thing I have learned over the years is when you've reached the limit (gotta listen to the little voice in your brain telling you this!).....then stop and take a break.
That break could be until the next day - or an hour later. Makes or breaks the job, I've found.
Not just for the body but also the mind - both of which you desperately need to persevere!
My little story:
I drove my '80 TR7 up I-95 to visit my older brother in Virginia back in the early-mid 90's. Well about an hour south of the state line the tranny went out. Called up my brother who drove down and we trailer her back to his house. I had a spare tranny in my garage in Lehigh Acres (Ft Myers) and called my friend Perry, who broke into my garage and shipped the tranny up to my brother's house in Portsmouth. I ended up doing the swap on my back on his front driveway. Car was on jack stands. It was July too and plenty warm.
To this day I look back with pride that I gutted out the repair myself. Car ran fine all the way home and for years afterwards.
Also did the 911 but this time at home and in my garage.
