Don Ridley Posted October 27, 2017 Share Posted October 27, 2017 (edited) If you are looking for small projects to upgrade your van, sorting through all the posts on this forum can take a lot of time. If you have a 2014-2018 TC all of the changes I have made to my 2016 SWB 1.6L XLT with lift gate Transit Connect will be very similar or exactly the same. Here are 17 easy upgrades I made to my van that will keep you busy for months. I included the associated post when applicable. These are basically in the order of importance or usefulness. MUST-HAVE tools: Set of plastic panel removers ($20 Amazon). One metal one also helps. Service manual. (I know….you can find the needed info here and on the internet so why buy the manual) Heated Seats Rear ceiling LED lights Insulate Door and Panels Internal bike rack Add fuses directly to rear junction box Add high power circuits directly to battery Tint front windows Upgrade sound system using stock head unit Move license plate up Focus Sti engine cover (1.6L turbo only) Add Turbo Transformer turbo boost unknit (1.6L turbo only) Open rear hatch from the inside. Turn on all inside lights with one switch. Install an inner shelf in the center console. Add clear protective film to the top of rear bumper. Glove box light. PDF copy of the service manual Recovery/Tow hook Heated Seats Rear ceiling lights Insulate Door and Panels. No post for this. I used Thermozite and applied with spray adhesive. Do this as you remove panels for other projects. It only takes about 20 minutes per panel and greatly reduces road noise. Also give the doors a solid feel. Internal bike rack Add fuses directly to rear junction box Add high power circuits directly to battery Tint front windows. No post for this. I had it professionally done using 3M Crystalline product. Reduces UV but is not dark. Upgrade sound system using stock head unit. No post for this. I used an Audio Control d4.800 amp with built in digital signal processor. The front speakers were Morel Hybrid. Sub is a 8" Bazooka. Added sound dampening tiles (Second Skin Pro) on doors. System works great and retains all functions of the Ford head unit. Here is a post where I simply upgraded the front speakers. These speakers worked great until I added the amp. Move license plate up. I saw this in another forum post. I used a rivet nut tool to add two new rivets and moved the plat up about 1/2" Focus Sti engine cover (1.6L turbo only). Add Turbo Transformer turbo boost unknit (1.6L turbo only) Open rear liftgate from the inside. Turn on all inside lights with one switch. ALSO HAS INSTRUCTIONS FOR REMOVING DOOR PANELS Install an inner shelf in the center console. Add clear protective film to the top of rear bumper. Use 3M protective film to cover the bumper. Glove box light. No post. Let me know If you need details or info. PDF copy of the service manual (for those who must have their own copy) 18. Recovery/Tow hook. Edited October 27, 2017 by Don Ridley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Ridley Posted October 27, 2017 Author Share Posted October 27, 2017 Thermozite insulated door panels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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