Second-generation Bronco / 1978
Second-generation Bronco · model year 1978
1978 Ford Bronco
Debut of the full-size Bronco · 351M or 400 V8 · solid axle
For 1978 Ford replaced the compact Bronco with a full-size wagon built as a shortened F-100 4x4, aimed at the Chevrolet K5 Blazer, Dodge Ramcharger and Jeep Cherokee. W2HG2
It grew about 12 inches in wheelbase, 28 in length, 11 in width and 4 in height over the 1977 truck, and gained 1,100 to 1,600 pounds depending on powertrain. W2
Demand was strong. Wikipedia says buyers waited months for trucks, and both Wikipedia and Hagerty say the big Bronco outsold the Blazer and Ramcharger. W2HG2
Quick facts
Identification guide
Year tells
- Custom trucks have round headlamps. Rectangular lamps mean Ranger XLT, or a later swap. W2MT2
- Ford's 'F-O-R-D' block letters on the hood and an F-100 front clip (1978–79 share it). W2
- Serial in the AE0,001–CK9,999 range (Ford parts catalog). FDF
Vs. 1977: The 1977 Bronco was the last compact, 92-inch-wheelbase first-generation truck with a 302 V8.
Vs. 1979: 1979 made rectangular headlamps standard on every Bronco, added a catalytic converter and offered taller captain's chairs.
What changed for 1978
- All-new truck: F-100 chassis cut to a 104-inch wheelbase, a coil-sprung Dana 44 front and a leaf-sprung Ford 9-inch rear. W2MT2
- V8 only: 351M standard, 400 optional. No six-cylinder, and the 460 was not offered with 4WD. W2MT2FDF
- Lift-off fiberglass top behind the B-pillars replaced the full-length steel top. The tailgate glass rolls down by dash switch or key. W2HG2
- New to Bronco: air conditioning, radio, tilt steering, and a three-across front bench that made it a six-seater with the rear seat. W2
Reading the VIN
- Format: U15 (Bronco wagon), engine letter (H = 351, S = 400), plant letter (L = Michigan Truck), then a two-letter, four-digit serial. Example of the format: U15HL followed by the serial. FDFFSC
- From 1978 the serial uses two letters and four numbers (e.g. XX0,000). FDF
- 1978 serial range: AE0,001–CK9,999 (Ford's Oct 1979 truck parts catalog). FDF
- The door tag also shows the model code, U150 or U151, which owners link to the GVW rating (U151 = 6,400 lb per one owner). FSC
Options & packages explained
- Custom: the base model. Round headlamps in 1978. W2MT2
- Ranger XLT: the top trim, with rectangular headlamps in 1978. The package included chrome bumpers and bright trim, bodyside moldings, full carpet, insulation, woodgrain interior inserts, a sport steering wheel, upgraded seats and a spare-tire cover (MotorTrend's 1979 list; 1978 contents not separately confirmed). W2MT2
- Free Wheelin' package: a cosmetic option for Custom and Ranger XLT with tricolor striping and blacked-out trim. W2
- Powertrain: T-18 or NP435 4-speed manual standard (supply-dependent), C6 automatic optional; part-time NP205 standard, full-time NP203 optional with the automatic. MT2W2
- Chassis options per MotorTrend: heavy-duty suspension (to 6,550 lb GVW) and quad front shocks. MotorTrend's prices are 1979 figures. MT2
Colors
FORDification's list of Ford light-truck paint codes for 1978. It covers all Ford light trucks, so a given color may not have been offered on the Bronco.
| Code | Ford light-truck color, 1978 |
|---|---|
| 6 | Bright Yellow (San Jose plant only per Ford's 1978 color brochure) |
| 7 | Light Chamois (Tan) |
| 8 | Light Blue |
| B | Dark Jade Metallic |
| D | Bright Blue Metallic |
| F | Dark Brown Metallic |
| G | Chrome Yellow |
| H | Dark Brown Metallic |
| I | Bright Medium Blue |
| J | Silver Metallic |
| K | Bright Red (Castillo Red) |
| L | Midnite Jade |
| M | Wimbledon White (spelled "Whimbleton" on the list) |
| N | Maroon |
| P | Dark Nectarine Metallic (Cinnamon Glow) |
| Q | Tangerine (San Jose only) |
| R | Light Jade |
| S | Dark Blue Metallic |
| T | Candyapple Red |
| U | Cream |
| V | Silver Metallic |
| X | Indio Tan |
| Y | Jade Metallic (Jade Glow) |
| A | Raven Black |
| 2 | Medium Copper |
Buyer's checklist
Body
- Floors front and rear, checked from underneath. One owner's truck was rusted through at the rear passenger side. FS2
- Tailgate bottom and drains, the classic full-size Bronco rust spot. Check the weatherstrips too. FS2MTG
- Inner rear fender lips, B-pillar bottoms and the lower door-striker corners. FS2
- Above the windshield, where the gasket meets the roof. One owner had to replace a roof. FS2
- Under the 'racetrack' side molding, especially on the front fenders. FS2
- Radiator core support and the body mounts under the firewall. FS2
Tailgate window
- Run the glass from the dash switch and the key. Stuck windows are a forum staple, and corroded tailgate harness connectors are a common cause. FS2
- A rusted tailgate torsion bar makes the gate dangerously heavy. MTG
Mechanical
- C6: check for pump-seal leaks and red, not brown or burnt, fluid. FS2
- Radius-arm bushings, the exhaust manifolds/Y-pipe and transfer-case operation. FS2
- Engines, the 9-inch and the C6 are cheap and easy to rebuild. Rust is the real cost, so one owner says to buy the most rust-free truck you can. FS2
Paperwork and originality
- Match the VIN engine letter (H = 351M, S = 400) to the engine claimed. FDFFSC
- Originality drives value. Hagerty notes an unrestored base Custom outsold a restored 400 Ranger XLT at auction. HG2
- Custom versus Ranger XLT: in 1978, round headlamps mean Custom. W2MT2
Common upgrades & swaps
- Engine replacement: owners note good used 351M, 400 and 460 engines are cheap, and the 460 big-block fits the chassis. FS2
- 9-inch rear: rebuild it or swap in a complete third member. FS2
- C6: cheap to rebuild or replace with a built unit. FS2
- Interior and trim parts are widely shared with 1973–79 F-Series trucks, and many are improved over factory design. FS2W2
Parts compatibility
| System | 1978 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Front clip, doors, front roof, dash | Shared with 1973–79 F-100/F-Series | W2 |
| Front axle | Dana 44, coil-sprung, solid (1978–79 only in full-size) | W2HG2 |
| Rear axle | Ford 9-inch | W2MT2 |
| Transfer case | NP205 (part-time) or NP203 (full-time) | W2MT2 |
| Engine | 351M/400 (335 series); the 460 was not offered in 4WD from the factory | MT2FDF |
| Rear top | 1978–79 fiberglass lift-off top | W2 |
Values
- Hagerty (June 2020): average #1 (Concours) value for a 1979 was $48,900. HG2
- 2020 Bring a Trailer records: $60,375 for a restored 400 Ranger XLT, then $67,725 for an unrestored 20,000-mile 351 Custom. HG2
- MotorTrend (2016) estimated its 28,564-mile 1979 Ranger XLT at $30,000. MT2
- A 2017 forum buyer reported paying $3,800 for a well-optioned 1978 XLT 400, a single anecdote and not a market value. FS2
Where sources disagree
Where our sources give different numbers, we show each value next to its source and say what evidence would settle it.
More photos
FAQ
Did the 1978 Bronco have a six-cylinder?
No. 1978–79 Broncos were V8 only: 351M standard, 400 optional. W2MT2HM3
Is the 1978 top removable?
Yes. A fiberglass lift-off top covers the area behind the front seats. The front roof is steel and shared with the F-100. W2HG2
Where is the VIN on a 1978 Bronco?
On the door tag riveted to the driver's door, per owners. The engine letter follows U15. FSCFDF
Sources
- W2: Wikipedia, 'Ford Bronco' (second- and third-generation sections)
- HG2: Hagerty, '1979 Ford Bronco sells for $67,725, setting auction record for second-gen models' (June 2020)
- MT2: MotorTrend (Jim Allen), 'A Showroom Fresh 1979 Bronco' (Dec 2016)
- BOT: Blue Oval Trucks, 'Ford Bronco Production Numbers' (Ford Customer Relationship Center figures)
- FDF: FORDification.net, 'Decoding '73-'79 Ford Truck VIN Tags' (from the Oct 1979 Ford Truck Master Parts Catalog)
- FDP: FORDification.net, '1973-1979 Ford Truck Exterior Paint Codes'
- FS2: Full Size Ford Bronco Forum, 'buying a 78/79 Bronco' (owner advice, 2017)
- FSC: Full Size Ford Bronco Forum, '78/79 codes: difference between U151 & U150'
- HM3: Hemmings, '1980-'86 Ford Bronco Buyer's Guide' (Oct 2021, with author Todd Zuercher)
- MTG: MotorTrend, 'Tailgate Party: putting the fix in a rusty Bronco tailgate'