It doesn't seem to me that your head is up your rear at all... It does seem that maybe you're in over your head though.
I REALLY think you need to either come to terms with learning how and doing some of the work yourself or accept that the car is going to cost you an absolute fortune to send to the shop every time something goes wrong.
Do you know anyone who is mechanically inclined who could help you?
#1 if the spark plugs haven't been replaced yet, do them yourself. Go to the auto parts store, but the specified NGK Platinum spark plugs and follow the directions in the following link EXACTLY.
Disassembly to access the spark plugs:
http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/Librar...ection=IG&P=10
Spark plug installation:
http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/Librar....aspx?S=IG&P=7
Don't worry about inspecting the plugs yet, just replace them for now and we'll have a look at the old ones later to see if they have anything special to tell us.
Actually, once you move the piping out of the way from sitting over the engine, you're half way to replacing the valve cover gaskets.... I can lay out the proceedure for you, but I don't think I'm close enough that you want to just come over and let me show you how to do it....
