I can't really help with anything but the dash pod, upload a picture or two, it is possible that you got the wrong pod for your truck, I have had both the 97-03 pods and the 04-08 pods and I know for certain that they wont fit the wrong truck. I have a few pictures of my old pod, for my 01 F-150 I used to own, loaded in my profile in my only album, so you could also look at that, if the dash or the pod look different than what you are seeing in the picture then you got the wrong pod. :/
good luck!
