Mike, Transmission work is never inexpensive. My car goes in for state inspection Monday. Also, I am leaking steering fluid. On a 2004, I don't want to pay a lot for this muffler, but I don't want a car payment either. We will see.
Free wood and wire works as well as store bought, actually better than the wood some places sell as we have discussed on this Forum many times. Take them up on it!!! As you may recall, all my wood and Homasote has been free so far! The stuff I got from my dad's shop is good, it is just a menagerie of sizes!!
I can get more free plywood as well from an O gauge friend who gets it at work. They just pile it up for scrap after using it as separators on semi truck loads. He hauls cheese, nothing but cheese; and plywood!!