That baffle isn't making any popping noise, but if you are getting a popping noise out the exhaust, pay attention as you might have an exhaust valve guide going South. If you can get a video or even audio clip of the popping, post it here and people will help you diagnose.
Pull your dash out and assess the overall damage. Glue it or replace it. The junkyard/Ebay and gasser trucks are options and they are plentiful and cheap.
Leave that trailer brake controller alone. Nobody ever got fired for buying a Tekonsha brake controller. They have a great reputation and if you use it just once, you'll be happy you have one.
If it were me, I'd leave that steering wheel in place, peel off all the bad leather cover and put a $10 steering wheel cover. They make some really nice/functional ones, so pick out one that you like as you should be happy with the single item you will touch more than anything else on your truck.
Lots of window seal replacement options, LMC is where I would look.
Lastly: don't condemn the normally aspirated 7.3. You know why your truck has over 300K on it? Because it's a normally aspirated 5 speed truck, and somebody probably never overloaded it and/or drove it beyond the capability of the truck. Unloaded on flatter routes, I really like my IDI. I towed a car hauler with a racecar and several other things quite often and never really complained. Going over a mountain pass was a totally different story, although even that was OK as long as you knew you were going to have a make a bit of a run or deal with 3rd gear with your foot to the floor until you get over the peak. Again, you won't win any races but you'll always get there.
Make no mistake, a turbo is the fastest and cheapest way to make the best towing power, but a normally aspirated 7.3 with a decent pump/injectors (properly timed too) is OK as long as you aren't towing heavy often and trying to get some place in a giant hurry.
Good luck and welcome to Oilburners.
