1997 E-350 Super 5.4 cargo

As it sits right now, the van is about as basic as it gets, with the only "luxury" being a/c. AM/FM radio, manual windows, locks, seats, mirrors, etc. Vinyl seats without armrests. Single cupholder/trash can console. Solid wall/mesh "cage" behind front seats, bare cargo area. So far I love this van. New coils, plugs, odometer gear, belt, a few bulbs and lower ball joints fixed the few issues it had, which on a 200k odometer impressed me. I still need to install the new a/c pulley and clutch.

After reading about all of the interchangeability of these vans, there are a few parts that have made their way onto my junkyard shopping list. So far, that list includes:
97-03 Steering column with tilt/cruise
Console w/4 cupholders, cubby, coin holders and glove box
Passenger seat storage drawer (it appears that my seat has the rails, but if it's different I'll switch out the seat base)
Cloth seats with armrests (whatever year I can find in good condition 97-09)
E-450 Ambulance steering stabilizer setup
Rear step bumper (climbing in the back without that is a pain)
Factory/aftermarket tow hitch and harness (don't plan on towing but want the option)
OEM aluminum rims (trying to figure out if the 07-14 3150/250 aluminum wheel has the correct offset)

Non-OEM upgrades planned include an ATOT A6 head unit with GPS and backup camera, new 6x8 in the front doors, insulation and lexan for the cage wall to keep the ac in the front, LED headlights (5x7 bulb replacement, not whole assembly), plywood and industrial carpet for the cargo floor, some shelving, E-Track on one wall, switched LED cargo lights, ceramic window tint, Slick Locks and repainting the cargo floor and van roof. I'm still trying to find a lockable file cabinet style center console I like.

Of course these are long-term plans as funds and junkyard availability dictate, plus some things may change if I find cheaper/better/used/etc. Any other recommendations or ideas? Considering the fact I only paid $1,300 for the van, I consider these upgrades an investment. Yeah, I could just save up and get a newer, better equipped van but the thing runs great, is in fantastic condition and starting next year won't need emissions testing. So I can throw another $1k in upgrades and be happy for a long time.

 

Steering column and console will be easy, the console just clips onto the doghouse so you just need to find one to swap in.
I actually don't like the step bumper as I find it gets in the way for rear loading, and once you put a receiver under it the receiver tube sticks out enough beyond the small bumper to provide a handy step.
I also agree on the aftermarket head unit and speakers.. the factory pieces are stone age basic. I want to put a NAV unit in my just acquired 11 E250.
And yeah the stock sealed beam headlights suck. However the best LED to swap in are projector sealed beams, whatever you do don't buy chinese conversion lens they are junk, it needs to be DOT spec.
I have a frame with E-track I built that is going back into the new van once I seal up the walls, I'm also going to completely seal off the cargo area from the cab if for no other reason to keep it clean, everything gets covered in dust so quickly and sometimes the stuff I'm carrying is noisy.
Congrats on the van, I paid $1800 for my 06 I'm now retiring, it ran for 5 years with almost no problem and still runs great but the body has dissolved to the point it's getting unsafe. These are great work trucks.

 

I have given thought to getting the hitch and using one of those receiver steps but they're pricey. I do have some welder friends that should be able to make one for me though.

The LED headlights I plan on getting are DOT approved and highly rated:
I got really lucky with this van. The rubber mat in the cargo area had been removed long ago, and the small patches of rust back there are nowhere near penetrating through. A wire brush, some OSPHO and rattle can Rustoleum will take care of that quickly. After it cures for about a week or so I'll cut some plywood to fit then install industrial carpet over that. Leaves an air gap, quiets the cargo area a bit and adds some insulation from floor heat. This van will be used for craft shows, so I don't have to worry about destroying the carpet. The roof is just now starting to show signs of the drip rail caulking separating, so I plan on using a wire wheel to strip that out, re-caulking, sand and OSPHO the small spots of rust and spraying the whole roof with Rustoleum. Maybe after I will coat the roof with one of those RV roof coats just to add a little heat resistance and make it a little quieter. I'd like to slap some Noico sound deadening pads on the open patches of the walls too. The only other rust concern is the fact that at one point there was one of those rear-mounted mirrors to see the back of the van, and apparently that caught something and ripped out the top mount, so they just took off the mirror and left three holes in the roof and side. I'll smooth it out as best I can, fill them in and paint them when I do the roof.

Just for fun, I've been looking around Craigslist and Marketplace to see comparable vans, the closest I came was around $4,500. I can get a rebuilt engine and have the E4OD and differential rebuilt for under $3k and have basically a brand-new van for the same price. I have enough mechanic friends we could handle the install. But I have had two mechanics go over it and both agree I could probably get another 100k miles out of it as is with maintenance.

 

Even without a step inserted in the receiver there is enough of the tube sticking out to step up on.
My new truck came with a rubber mat in the rear and I initially took it out and installed the plywood from the other truck, but I found it was noisier so I just put the rubber mat back in and put the plywood over it. Next job on my list is wiring in a 7-way trailer harness and brake controller.

 

Yikes, that's a shin breaker. But if I keep the bumpers and go with my original plan of painting them with truck bed coating, I could coat the hitch at the same time and end up with a non-slip step.

 

LOL.. I know what you mean but for me anyway I haven't smashed my shins yet unless there is a tow bar in it.. so unlike most I don't leave the tow bar in.

I like that idea... may have to steal it.