I am still alive. Car sat for about 2 years because I thought I had to drop the transmission and just haven't had the time or motivation to work on it. Oh woe is me, found out the issue, what I thought was the throw-out bearing making an insane racket, turned out to be a starter that was randomly engaging.
I am moving so I had to get off my ass now to get the car running again and needed to change out the battery and alternator as well, so I started out with that. Started up the car after I knocked that out, and was just checking voltage on the multimeter when I hear that fucking God awful sound again, but I got a good listen from the get go this time and heard that starter wind up (this originally happened while I was driving and not while the car was sitting, so I never thought it would have been the starter) and that's when I put 2 and 2 together and facepalmed. Went under the car and found a little shit wire that was a loose plug for the automatic trans circuit that was not in use, had worn through and apparently had 12v running to it, arcing off the damn body of the starter body causing, one: my odd intermittent short I could never find, and two: causing the starter to engage. Two birds, one stone, so I am pretty happy to say the least. Put some MT90 in the gear box and fresh Motul 90PA into the diff, took the car for a spin and wow, how I have missed driving this car.
That said, I am knocking out my brake issues and figured I would overhaul the whole shebang, new wheel bearings, rotors, EBC pads, master cylinder, drums, shoes, calipers, wheel cylinders, everything new. I knocked out the front end so far and found the old master was leaking, probably the main issue I have had taken care of, cool. Started the drums last night and found they don't want to come off. Probably worn drums and the shoes catching on a ridge. Was too dark out by the time I got to it and was too frustrated trying to get the star adjuster to spin the other way, so going to start fresh today and give it a go again and maybe pick up a brake spoon to make it easier. Will post pics later. Hope everyone has been well!
