[HI Cobra]

Kristen,

Sounds like you may be making some progress. I know our cars are not
at all alike but: I had a similar problem a couple of years ago. Seems
everything would be fine, then it would shut down as if you had turned the
key off. No start, no nothing for about 15 minutes, then start right up and
everything would be fine. Long story short (this went on for a few months)
I got stuck at a stop sign waiting in the car in front to finally go and in about a half mile it shut down again (hot). Got a small towel, put cold water on it and put it on what I guess is some form of computer module on the firewall and it started right up. Replaced the module and no more problems. Drove me nuts for a while. The "module" for lack of a better name, was an aluminum box about 1 1/2" thick and 4" x 5" from a mustang that was incorporated into the wiring - maybe to the coil. Not really sure what it did other than when it got hot it shut it down. Don't know if you have something similar in yours but if you do you may want to check it out. My "module" cost about $75.
Good luck on solving it - and I know what you mean by staying close to
home until you regain your confidense in it.