Being the proud owner of no less than three , (76 F-250 Ranger Super Cab, 78 F-250 Ranger 4x4 long bed, 79 F-350 Custom stake bed) and becoming increasingly enthusiastic about them, I have been curious as to why they're called "DENTSIDE." I've been building/customizing/restoring/racing cars and trucks for almost forty years and have only heard the term recently. Just curious and thanks in advance.

 

Dentside: Enthusiasts term for concave scallop line along the upper body side. Many trucks have upper body side mouldings within the 'dent.' See pic below.

1967/72's are called Bumpsides, as they have a raised scallop line along the body side.

 

Kinda what I figured, but nice to know for sure. Now can you tell me what defines a "Ranger?" I have two and there doesn't seem to be a bunch in common.

 

Ranger is a model. 1973/77: Custom - Ranger - Ranger XLT / 1978/79, Lariat became the most expensive.

 

I figure that XLT stands for "Xtra Large Truck?" (Humor) my 76 has factory a/c, carpet, split bench, no tilt. 78 has non-factory a/c and rubber floor, tilt wheel. Both are Ranger badged.

 

If the front seat backrest is split, your '76 is a Super Cab. Tilt wheel not available in F100/350, Bronco & Econoline until 1978.

1978/91: Tilt wheel operated by pressing the T/S handle forward.

Do you have a 2nd collection to help fund your hobby?

 

Yes, my 76 is a Super Cab. I purchased it from the original owner, a very good friend of mine, now deceased, in 2006 and it just passed the half million miles mark. I really like the truck but need a 4wd sometimes. I was going to transfer the trans down from a 4x to the SC and build the truck Ford should have, a Super Cab 460 4x4. I picked up the 78 with the idea in mind but it was just too nice of a speciman to tear apart. So I figured two is better than one, and it was free. The stake bed is another thing entirely, but free also, so I figured I'd let it sit and figure out what to do with it later. With new carpet, seats from a Thunderbird SC, black leather dash cover and headliner (always knew I kept the material for something), lumber rack, off road lights, radio delete dash from the stake and air horns, I have a grand total of $2.38 into the 4x. I have two sets of good 36"tires and now only need a set of 17" rims for it. A true study in how much I can build for how little. I call it "building broke." You've helped a bunch already with your posts and replies, by the way, thank you. AND THANKS FOR AUTO-SAVE!!! IT JUST SAVED ME!

 

From a great source of information on here. "Here are the differences between these models. I also have found out that for the 78/79 Bronco it was available as a Custom or Ranger XLT model only. They did not offer the Ranger package only on the Bronco."
Custom:
Pretty much your stripped down version although it could have been ordered with just about any individual option you wanted to put on it. A Custom model included: low back bucket seats, vinyl floor mat for the front only, 25 gallon gas tank, manual steering, 4 speed trans with the 351 motor and the 205 case.
Exterior features were:
hub caps, black painted bumpers and the stainless mirrors.
Ranger:
Not offered on the Bronco, only available in the F-series lineup. Those upgrades were:
The bench seat had a chain mail vinyl seat upholstery, it also included a color matching vinyl floormat, sunvisors, seat back covers in the regular cab model and white headliner with chrome trim.
Ranger XLT:
The front seat used a combination of cloth and vinyl, insulated woodgrain door panels, carpeted flooring, woodgrain around instrument cluster, passenger dash and the glove box, woodtone on the steering wheel horn button, chrome trim around taillights and halogen headlights. The XLT also got the body side trim.
Exterior:
Chrome bumpers, chrome molding around the windshield and side windows in the top, chrome molding around the drip rail by door, chrome wheel well lip molding, rear T-gate chrome pieces, and the body side trim.
Lariat:
Not offered on the Bronco, only available in the F-series lineup. Those upgrades were:
Full cloth seat trimmed in super soft vinyl, door trim panels that included padded inserts, map pockets on the lower door, button quilted padded headliner and extra insulation.
Options available:
These are the only options that I have prices on. Below are some additional options.
400 engine............................................ .....................$165.00
included 12 inch diameter clutch and 53 amp/hr battery
Traction lock front axle.............................................. ...$175.00
Traction lock rear axle.............................................. ....$175.00
Automatic trans............................................. .............$197.00
came with oil cooler and 53 amp/hr battery
Power steering.......................................... ..................$211.00
Heavy duty suspension........................................ .........$104.50
Forged aluminum wheels............................................ ... $218.30
Forged aluminum polished wheels....................................$304.30
When combined with the free wheeling package................$129.10
White painted styled steel wheels...................................$175.20
when combined with the free wheeling package.................$43.20
Rear seat.............................................. .....................$287.20
Quad front shocks............................................ ............$74.00
Swing away tire carrier Ranger XLT..................................$60.60
Swing away tire carrier Custom.......................................$81.6 0
Skid plates............................................ ......................$123.10
Rear stabilzer bar............................................... ...........$25.00
Tilt steering.......................................... ........................$72.00
Free Wheeling pacakge on a Custom................................$558.45
Free Wheeling Package XLT...........................................$385 .05
Ranger XLT package........................................... ...........$668.90
Additional options:
Appearance:
Chrome bumpers
Wheel well molding
Body side trim
GT bar with foam padding
Grilles. There were 3 different options for the front grille. Black, Silver or Argent with chrome accent. I have seen Black on an XLT and the Argent with chrome on an XLT. I am not sure how they decided what grille to put on what truck.
Audio:
AM radio
AM/FM mono radio (1 speaker in dash)
AM/FM stereo (speakers in door panels)
AM/digital clock radio
40 channel CB radio with antenna. This was available on all radio options. A simple way to tell if it had a CB originally if all wiring is gone look for an ash tray on the driver side cargo panel. If there is no ash tray it originally had a CB.
Comfort/convenience:
A/C
Comfort vent heater ( I think this was also the HI-LO option)
Insulation package
Rear floor mat (Custom only)
Front captain chairs (available in 79 only)
Front bench seat
Rear seat
Center console ( only available with buckets)
Convenience group ( intermittent wipers, map paockets and 12 inch day/night mirror)
Lighted visor mirror passenger side only
Privacy glass for top
sliding windows for top
tinted glass all
Western mirror, low mount(normal folding style mirror)
Recreation mirrors (towing mirrors)
GT sport steering wheel with simulated leather wrap ( not available with cruise)
Simulated leather wrapped steering wheel
Cruise control
Light group (ash tray, glovebox, underhood, instrument panel courtesy lights and dome light with map lights)
Swing away spare tire carrier ( stock when ordered with (5) 10x15 tires) with vinly tire cover
Performance:
Quad shocks (gas filled)
Handling package (rear sway bar, quad shocks up front and dual gas filled rear shocks)
Automatic trans
600 watt engine heater
Heavy duty suspension (HD front springs, HD rear springs and front sway bar)
Rear sway bar
Gauges (oil and amp)
32 gallon gas tank with skid plate
Skid plates for 25 gallon tank and T-case
Trailer towing package
Protection:
Tow hooks (front)
Locking hood release
Exterior protection group. Consists of door edge guards, front bumper guards and front bumper rubber strip.
Security lock group. Consisted of locking gas cap, locking hood release, spare tire lock and locking glove box.
Free Wheelin:
Standard features were:
Black bumpers front and rear, Dual black low mount western style mirrors, (5) 15x6 painted steel wheels in either white or chrome yellow with L78x15 raised white letter tires and of course the custom chromatic tape stripe found on the black Bronco. There were also 2 other stripe color combinations, Orange/Tan/Creme or Blue/White/Green.
Trailer Special:
Now according to my book the 1st year for the Trailer Special was 79. I have seen a few members here that have 78 Trailer Special's. There were 2 categories for the Trailer Special.
Light duty trailer towing package: Good for towing up to 2,000lbs.
This package included a heavy duty radiator, external oil cooler, seven lead trailer harness, heavy duty turn signal flasher and the Trailer Special emblem on the tailgate.
Heavy duty trailer towing package: Good for towing up to 6,000lbs.
This package included a heavy duty alternator, heavy duty battery, HD rear shocks, bigger radiator, rear sway bar, swing out recreational mirrors, amp meter, oil pressure gauge, HD front springs, external oil cooler and the Trailer Special emblem on the T-gate.
Transfer Cases
The T-case on an NP 203 (full time case) will have a shift pattern like this.
4 low lock
N
4 high lock
The NP 205 (part time case) will have this shift pattern
4 low
N
2 high
4 high

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Indeed! 4X4 supercabs were produced in 78 and 79, but none came stock with a 460. Your best bet would be to find one and do the engine swap. They are out there, you just have to be patient................ and be willing to spend a bit more than $2.38.

 

All I can say is "WOW!!!" My friend, you went above and beyond the call on that. Lots of info to digest. I know that all three of mine have had a minimum of mods, and I think a build sheet is in order for each. Again, THANK YOU.

 

NEVER!!! Patient or free spending. I want it now and I want it free! (Humor) I originally intended on something like that but the 4x is too clean to be just a doner and the SC has too much sentiment to. Oh well, now I have three. Good thing I have the room.

 

Then that's the best way to do it. Plus it can really make troubleshooting and diagnosing malfunctions much much easier, as you have three similar systems for testing most individual parts. That's the only good way to "blindly throw parts at the problem" when trying to figure out what's wrong.