1982 Econoline - Electrical, Carb, and Air Conditioning

I purchased a 1982 Econoline Cargo Van with an inline six engine a few months ago, primarily just to go windsurfing in. It has had 2 previous female owners after it was sold by the company that used it, both were windsurfers and lovingly maintained it. The repair records are absolutely amazing. It has 227,000 actual miles, with the engine being replaced somewhere around 130,000. It does NOT appear to have had the carb ever rebuilt or replaced, although it must have - that is the only thing on the car that hasn't been redone in the records. It is EXTREMELY touchy to start. It does not always start. It is an automatic, but has a choke that could possibly have been aftermarket. Most of the time to start it you have to do the following about 5 times: pump the gas about 6 times, open the choke, and try to start it without having your foot on the gas, until it seems as though it will start. It does appear to be running very rich. It also will NOT start on the rear tank, has to be set on the front tank. Is this a fuel pump problem or a carb problem?
NEXT - the rear lights don't work right. I had someone try to figure it out, and it changed, but still doesn't work. Most of the time the right rear light will come on with the lights are on, but the turn signal doesn't work. The left light comes on when you hit the brake, but will not come on when the lights on and the turn signal DOES work. It is a one bulb system for all lights: brake, night and turn signal. I'm afraid I'm going to get really fleeced by a place that does electrical work. The aftermarket cruise control also stopped working.
FINALLY - will it be possible to add an interior air conditioner to this vehicle? I don't mind adding it to the roof, but I will be driving it around to some very hot locations with someone very prone to heat exhaustion, so I need to have air conditioning available while I drive.
I'm to the point where I think I should just sell it, and try to get a newer vehicle. It is otherwise in very great shape, new trans, new brakes, new tires, new exhaust, etc.Car Repair Talk's forum.