1978 Ford Bronco Fact Sheet

General Year Information – 1978 Ford Bronco

The four-wheel drive Bronco was completely redesigned and restyled for 1978. It was “all-new top-to-bottom and front-to-rear.” It no longer utilized the original Falcon-based unit body, but a shortened wheelbase F-100 chassis and much of that vehicle’s sheet metal.

Front end design as used on the full-size Ford pickups. The honeycomb theme grille and two recessed, rectangular headlights were surrounded by bright moldings. The amber parking lights were beneath the headlights. “Ford” was printed in block letters on the face of the hood. The rectangular side-marker lights were located up high in the body side sculpturing, that ran straight from the upper part of the headlight, level and almost the entire length of the truck.

Bronco color choices for 1978 were: Raven black; Wimbledon white; Candy-apple red; Castillo red; Medium copper; silver (metallic); Midnight blue (metallic); Light blue; Bahama blue; Dark jade (metallic); Light jade; Chrome yellow; Tan; Cream; Dark brown (metallic); Jade Glow; Dark Cinnamon Glow; Bright emerald; and Bright yellow. A choice of a black or white fiber­glass rear roof section was available.

NOTE: All new engines for the Bronco were featured:  351 and 400 CID “Windsor” V-8s.

Historical Notes

A total of 68.7 percent of 1978 Broncos had bucket seats, 63 percent tinted glass, 32.4 percent an AM radio and 53.3 percent Air-conditioning. 78.9 percent of Broncos were equipped with automatic transmission. Sales were overwhelmingly great, with 69,120 units sold – over five times 1977!

1978 Ford Bronco Facts – Models Offered

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1978 Ford Bronco Facts – Significant Options

• • Air-conditioning.
  • Battery, maintenance-free.
  • Bench seat, front.
  • Bodyside paint stripe, narrow.
  • Bumpers, contour, front and rear.
  • Console (with front bucket seats).
  • Convenience Group: includes intermittent wipers, gathered map pockets and 12 in. day/night mirror.
  • Floor mat, rear.
  • Free Wheeling Package (See Models for complete listing)
  • Fuel tank 32-gallon – in lieu of standard (includes skid plate).
  • GT bar.
  • Handling Package: includes rear stabilizer bar, quad front and heavy-duty rear shocks.
  • Heater, “Comfort Vent”.
  • Hood release, inside locking.
  • Insulation package.
  • Low-mount Western mirrors.
  • Northland Special Package (See Models for complete listing)
  • Part-time 4×4 (with automatic transmission).
  • Privacy glass.
  • Protection Group with bright door edge guards, front bumper guards and front bumper rub strip.
  • Radio AM/FM stereo.
  • Radio, AM digital clock.
  • Radio. 40-channel CB.
  • Ranger XLT Package (See Models for complete listing)
  • Rear bench seat, folding (includes rear floor mat).
  • Recreation swing-out mirrors.
  • Scissor-type jack, heavy-duty.
  • Security Group: includes locking gas cap, inside hood release lock, spare tire lock and locking glove box.
  • Shock absorbers, quad front.
  • Side windows, sliding.
  • Skid plates for standard fuel tank and transfer case.
  • Spare tire carrier, swing away.
  • Spare tire cover, inside.
  • Speed control.
  • Stabilizer bar, Rear.
  • Steering wheel, sport.
  • Tilt steering wheel.
  • Tinted glass, all windows.
  • Tow hooks, front.
  • Trailer towing packages: light and heavy duty.
  • Visibility Group: includes light in glove box, ashtray, under-hood; instrument panel courtesy lights; and dome light with integral map light (not included with front bench seat).
  • Visor vanity mirror, lighted.
  • Wheel covers, Mag style.
  • Wheel lip moldings, bright.
  • Wheels, 10-hole forged aluminum 15-inches.
  • Wheels, five-slot forged aluminum 15-inches.
  • Wheels, painted styled steel white 15 x 6 inches.

1978 Ford Bronco Facts –
Body Paint Color Codes

Click on the Paint Code Name to See the Mix Codes for the appropriate color:

1978

1978 Ford Bronco Facts –
Engine Options

• • 160 horsepower V-8.

1978 Ford Bronco Facts –
Power Train Options

Transmissions

• • Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission
  • Four-speed manual floor shift transmission standard.

Transmission Ratios

• • Four-Speed Manual Transmission
    First: 2.64:1, Second: 1.89:1, Third: 1.34:1, Fourth: 1:1. Reverse: 2.56:1
  • Three-Speed Automatic Transmission
    Low: 2.46:1, Second: 1.46:1, Direct 1.00:1. Reverse: 2.18:1.

Rear Axle

• • Transmission: I-6
    Three Speed: (manual transmission) 3.20:1; (automatic transmission)
    Automatic: 2.83:1; 3.20:1 optional
  • Transmission: 200 HP V-8
    –  Three Speed: 2.80:1
    –  Four-speed: 2.80:1
    –  Automatic: 2.80:1
  • 3.50:1, 4.11:1, or 4.57:1 axle ratios available as options
  • Equa-lock limited slip axle available on all models.