answers to your questions
1) No special tools are needed. Just typical ratchet/socket and wrench set, and various little things like a gasket scraper, and maybe some other little stuff that I can't remember right now. If you have a lift available, it will make your life a lot easier, but it is not absolutely necessary.
2) Make sure you have the heads machined. Not machining them is just begging to do the job over in a few thousand miles. New head bolts are also a very good idea. For what little they cost and to save you from the chance of having to redo the whole job, they are definitely worth it. I would also replace the spark plugs while you can get to them. Spring for a set of platinums, and it will save you from several hours of work later down the road.
3) Yes, you do. But then again, we gearheads are not always known for being the most sane of people, so I'd say you are in good company in your insanity and not to worry about it. I got my SC for $400, and about 20 times during the course of the job I was ready to part the car out and set the rest of the car on fire, but once you get it all up and running I promise there will be nothing but a smile from ear to ear. Worst possible case though, you get half way into it, discover that you can't do this, part the car out and you will have doubled your $300 and learned quite a bit along the way. Give it a try, take your time, and just ask questions here along the way on anything you don't understand. Under the hood of these cars is rather cramped and over-engineered in the stupidest ways, but there really isn't anything too hard to figure out. If you have a decent amount of mechanical knowledge, you shoudn't have a problem getting the job done right. My only other advice would be to keep track of everything you take off, and make notes as you take it apart of where and how things are attached. Good luck.
Mike