[Q] Problems w/ Root & Custom Recovery on LG LS980...and I only have Ubuntu access... topic

First off I'm running Ubuntu 14.04 and I'm probably not as tech savvy as I should be for someone running Ubuntu. I do not have access to a Windows computer. My gf has a Macbook Air but I know she's tired of me running my phone experiments on it. Here's the problem that I'm in. I have spent hours upon hours of research and made numerous attempts at this and I just can't figure it out. I have an LG LS980 and I'm running the ZVE update (phone already had ZVE on it when I bought it). I do not have root or CWM or TWRP. I have been trying to root, install CWM or TWRP and then switch to CM 11. I originally rooted my phone, then, because of an incessant error issue (it would pop up repeatedly every second making the phone unusable) I had to factory reset. Since that factory reset I have not been able to achieve root. I have tried everything (IOROOT, STUMP, TOWELROOT) nothing. Stump says that I'm rooted but SUPERSU says I have no binary. I figured I'd just go straight to a custom recovery and then flash a rom that is already rooted. However it appears that there is no TWRP or CWM for LG LS980 without root. I just can't figure out how to get root status back and how to install a custom recovery. I'm stuck and I need help. I've read about going back to a stock ZVC and starting all over again but I don't know how to do that. I appreciate any future help from you all.