Why is the 78 and 79 bronco lumped with the rest when there is nothing in common with a 96. Is it just not enough interest in the 2 years.

 

Why not a subsection on the 78-79 Broncos.

No offense to the 66-77 or 80-96 Bronco owners but the 78-79 are the pick of the litter not to mention the best looking too.

Cheers,Rick.

 

I'll be gutsy and take a stab at answering. There are some parts that carry over into the early 80s like some engines, trannys, and rearends. Part of the answer is probably in your note of the 78-79 were only there for two years.

I believe some body parts also interchange. Big Bronco owners also have similar interests and use their trucks in similar ways too.

I gues that is a start.

 

I would be interested in knowing if there are any.

Rick.

 

the tailgates do if you swap them u need to use the window gasket that is the same as the taigate/window.

 

I believe the window is different and will not fit the cap.

I forgot about the tailgate which is silly because it fits all the Big Broncos right up to and including 1996.

The caps are on the 78 79 are not interchangeable with 80 to 96s either.

Rick.

 

The rear window in the tailgate will fit the cap but you need the gasket in the capto coinside with the tailgatestyle you are using. That said I dont belive you can change the windows between the tailgates. I put a 94 tail gate and window and all on my 79.

 

Simply put, three forums devoted to a defunct model seems a bit excessive.

I would further this conversation by saying that the 78's and 79's had more in common with their smaller counterparts mechanically than their similarly sized contemporaries. However, I doubt the 78-79 owners/enthusiasts would appreciate being lumped in with the "early" Bronco either if for no other reason than they ARE significantly larger and represent the first major redesign of the model. Body and styling are very much the same for the entire run from 78 through 96. Yes, the 78-9's are notably different in the actual body components since they are able to share so few components with the 80-96's. (Blame the F-series designers for restyling/updating the entire line in 1980 if you want to). However, the partial steel roofline over the front seats, the fiberglass cap, the power rear window, the basic interior configuration, all remain unchanged from 1978 through the end of the production run. The most obvious reason is that Ford made the departure from one vehicle size to another between 1977 and 1978. After that, the model never underwent a major change in size. While some might argue that the styling began to follow the F-series line in 78 that is a misnomer since the Bronco styling ALWAYS mirrored the full size truck line even when the Bronco was significantly smaller than those models. All in all, I see the 78-79 as the quintessential BIG Bronco with the combined preferred elements from both the early version and the latter units.

 

I see we agree based on your last comment on your previous post.

Quote"All in all, I see the 78-79 as the quintessential BIG Bronco with the combined preferred elements from both the early version and the latter units."

I have never owned a vehicle more suited to my likes and dislikes, I say vehicle because in Canada where I live the auto insurance companies do not consider the Bronco to be a Truck or an SUV......... what you say is it then?

Well in Canada it is considered a Station Wagon and as such has lower rates because it was considered a family car.


Rick.

 

Would that the US would let us call our beloved Bronco something that would save a few dollars at tax time. While I would never consider referring to her as a station wagon, I would do so immediately if someone were to suggest that the brutish monster filling the larger portion of my garage is an SUV or worse the modern reference here in the US known as a "cross-over" which is nothing more than a station wagon with 4WD or AWD.

It really makes no difference to me what the government decides to call them because the vehicles are far too capable and cross too many so-called boundaries that supposedly indicate a vehicle's intended purpose. This Bronco owner has had three Ford engineers (who rode along on a weekend Bronco 4-wheeling excursion) admit that it was highly unlikely that the designers of the Bronco EVER intended it to be put in some of the places we put them much less actually be capable of getting through such obstacles.

 

What ever one wants to classify it as I feel they are the beter all around of all the years. Other years may have a thing or two better than 78/79 but over all i still think these are the best.

 

The 2 year run is the only viable argument that I personally see but even then we have a 2.5 year run on the powerstroke.
I guess I could own a van 68 to present thats a run.
The only thing comparable with a 78 9 to an 80 is motor tranny and tailgate and the motor and tranny didn't last too long.
It is no big deal but I own 2 79's and never even had a desire for an 80 up so I hardly ever come to the bronco site and wade through it.

In my opinion they were not only the king of bronco's but the king of SUV's.

 

Dido that.

 

I won't argue with that.

 

I've driven both and you can take it from me,I wouldn't lie to ya the 78/79 is the best.

I'm glad we could clear that up.

Cheers,Rick.