F150online Forums - E250 5.0 Won't Start...help!

I do have a newer F150. Hope it's ok for me to post this question here. This 91 E250 Van was purchased at a auction. Told the van was in running condition but it has been parked for approx 1.5 years. I had it towed home after the auction. Currently, the engine would crank, but
won't turn over. Here are a bit more details

1)van was purchased as parts w/o keys / titles

2)had to use a screwdriver jam into the ignition lock
cylinder to get it out and replaced it with a new one
(hopefully I didn't mess up the ignition switch)

3)Put the new battery in, but connected positive
terminal to negative post, and negative terminal to
positive post. (the previous owner changed the
negative terminal and used a 4 gauge red cable). Sparks were all over by the battery post. I finally connected correctly and checked all fuse. Fuse block didn't 't look
original and is unmarked...so I checked every single one with lights, and they seem to be ok

4)Tried start the van, hear the delay and fuel pump,
but no crank...no radio or heat/fan.

5) Found 1 of the 4 wires to ignition coil broken
(see picture), pulled the harness and found there were
3 slots that the wire can go into. However, on the
coil side. There are only 2 contact points for
connections. So I just tapped the broken red wire onto
the other red wire. So there are 2 wires on each side.
(hope this is correct)

http://www.njhouseholdgoods.com/img/wire1.jpg
http://www.njhouseholdgoods.com/img/wire2.jpg

6) Changed the starter solenoid and tried starting the
van. This time it crank pretty strong (so I guess my
battery is still good), but it won't turn over. still
no radio or heat/fan and I don't know why.

7)The fuel gauge looks empty when the key is in on
position. Since I have 2 gas tanks, I dumped approx 1
gal of gas in each tank....still couldn't get the van
started.

Any idea what I should do next? the sparks and wires
looked fairly new, but the ignition coil looks old,
should I replace it next?

TIA!

Dave