My first finished project: the headliner shelf
The VanEssential shelf became the first hands-on piece of the conversion I carried all the way through.
It started as a straightforward storage upgrade above the cab: assemble the shelf, fit the brackets, and use the existing Transit mounting area. The hardware assembly went together, but one body opening was not threaded the way the other side was.
A drill-and-tap tool broke in the opening, and the first extractor did not remove it. The mounting point eventually received a supplied rivnut and a 1/4-20 bolt. I finished the installation, but the repaired attachment stays unloaded until its seating, corrosion protection, and load path are inspected.
This is a record of the build, not an installation guide. Reported completion does not establish inspection, structural adequacy, or safety.
My September 13 account of the broken tap, mounting-hole rework, and finished shelf. A build diary, not an installation guide.
Parts & sources
Recorded parts cost
No recorded parts cost is available yet.
Recorded line amounts, not a current quote or a complete installation total. Discounts and tax remain unallocated; no grand total or per-system labor split is inferred.