Michael, everything in life has an opportunity cost. I have to believe your superior automotive tech skills, bought and paid for, spill over to other work life aspects. Your problem solving logic has been honed to a higher degree.However, I have realized that the opportunity cost of dabbling in auto repair could have been better spent towards higher education or hobbies that help my real job or family life. Unfortunately, auto repair is not a great networking tool in this day and age and also isn't viewed very favorably in many middle-class social circles. Sad, but true.
To the OP - there is no shame in moving on and finding other things to do with your time that deliver a better ROI. We all want to save money and prove to others that we can do work ourselves, but.....we sometimes need to ask ourselves if it is truly efficient for us to do so.
Heck, try drinking alcoholically until the age of 33 and getting your 1st degree at 40. Talk about opportunity cost!
I am the only one on my block who crawls under cars. But my neighbors come to me all the time asking for help. And to borrow the truck... I am confident you are in the same boat.
And I can say for sure your guidance has been a help to BITOG and to me.