Custom, Ranger, Ranger XLT, Lariat differences

[Ranger429]

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 floormat 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 T-gate.

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


Almost all of this information was taken from various books and brochures. If you find an error somewhere post up and I will correct it. I am only human.:thumbup

VIN number location on the frame rail. Picture thanks to InfoFord.

http://www.ncspecialties.com/images/vin.jpg

[Ranger429]

Heres some good info on the factory push bars:

This is a factory correct push bar for the 78-79 Bronco's:

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/638101/fullsize/dsc02540.jpg

There was an early style bar like this that fit the 77 style bumper.



Mounts for a 77 model:

http://bp1.blogger.com/_vbRmcDH5k9s/Rv7S9vrrS_I/AAAAAAAAAC8/22xlT19cJ_A/s400/DSC01079.JPG

Mounts for the 78-79 bumper:

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/569087/fullsize/dsc01739.jpg

You can see the difference in the way the top mount plate is bent. The problem comes when trying to mount the bottom bolts. 77 style on a 78-79 truck:

http://bp0.blogger.com/_vbRmcDH5k9s/Rv7S9frrS-I/AAAAAAAAAC0/AXgWVl48ly4/s400/DSC01078.JPG

It just won't work. So best bet is to match up the style of the upper mounting plate, by the pics it looks like an early model, and if you plan on using it on a 78-79 forget about it.

[cuse]

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.
Huh? There's no argent with a chrome accent. It's either black w/ argent trim (Bronco/FWer), argent, or chrome.

All trims come standard with black headlight trim and argent grille unless the chrome grille was ordered, then all three pieces would be chrome. However, if you order a 1978 Custom with the chrome grille option, you would only get the grille in chrome, not the headlight trim. In 1979 you get all three pieces, even if it's for a Custom.

[Ranger429]

Huh? There's no argent with a chrome accent. It's either black w/ argent trim (Bronco/FWer), argent, or chrome.


While I appreciate the fact that you are trying to correct me I'll again state that all the information that I gathered was taken from books and brochures. It is not information that I randomly made up. The picture below is of my NOS grille that I used in my Bronco, it is argent with chrome. The entire grille is not chrome. I have never seen a completly chromed grille for a 78-79. I've also never seen a black with argent grille either. Please post where you found this information.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/707874/fullsize/dsc03046.jpg

[Bronco79]

Scott, I believe on the other forum there was a discussion about customs with woodgrain on the glovebox, I have one like that

http://www.albertashoclub.ca/dscf5252.jpg

feel free to delete this is need be, just food for thought

[JfB_93]

Scott, how much would you say those push bars could sell for??
thanx, ken

[Ranger429]

Scott, I believe on the other forum there was a discussion about customs with woodgrain on the glovebox, I have one like that


feel free to delete this is need be, just food for thought

The nice part about buying trucks/Bronco's back then is you could put what you want on it. You could order a Custom (which comes stock with a vinly mat) with carpeting. Provided that someone didn't ad the Custom emblem to the woodgrain at some time in it's life only proves the point.

No need to delete it either, it is more of a discussion thread than tech.

Scott, how much would you say those push bars could sell for??


thanx, ken

On average they go for around 150-200.

[JfB_93]

Thanx

[Bronco79]

It's hard to say, mine was a ex government vehicle (B.C Hydro) 351m/auto, power steering, 32 gal tank, plane jane, I'm guessing that it had at one time, vinyl flooring, but it has been replaced with carpet.

It use to be a light baby blue, it has since been painted the midnight metallic blue (before I got it)

I did get Ford's build sheet (by calling the number, and getting them to send me a copy) I will have to find it again, and post it.

[cuse]

While I appreciate the fact that you are trying to correct me I'll again state that all the information that I gathered was taken from books and brochures. It is not information that I randomly made up. The picture below is of my NOS grille that I used in my Bronco, it is argent with chrome. The entire grille is not chrome. I have never seen a completly chromed grille for a 78-79. I've also never seen a black with argent grille either. Please post where you found this information.

[img]http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/707874/fullsize/dsc03046.jpg[img]

That would be a chrome grille you have there. Oh, you mean the inside walls are argent? Yeah, no. Ford sez it's chrome, so it's a chrome grille.

Black w/ argent...my mistake. I meant to say silver, not argent. I said argent twice. :banghead:

I soak up the information the same way. Paper trails!

[cuse]

Scott, I believe on the other forum there was a discussion about customs with woodgrain on the glovebox, I have one like that

[img]http://www.albertashoclub.ca/dscf5252.jpg[img]

feel free to delete this is need be, just food for thought

Every 78/79 have that, assuming they haven't fell off from the dried glue over age.

[Ranger429]

That would be a chrome grille you have there. Oh, you mean the inside walls are argent? Yeah, no. Ford sez it's chrome, so it's a chrome grille.

Black w/ argent...my mistake. I meant to say silver, not argent. I said argent twice. :banghead:

I soak up the information the same way. Paper trails!


Yeah, no? What does that mean? Are you saying that Ford never called them argent?

Post where it is you are getting your information from. I am going to see if I can find where I got my info from. I know it specifically said argent. In fact it specifically said what I posted originally.

[Blue79]

That would be a chrome grille you have there. Oh, you mean the inside walls are argent? Yeah, no. Ford sez it's chrome, so it's a chrome grille.

Black w/ argent...my mistake. I meant to say silver, not argent. I said argent twice. :banghead:

I soak up the information the same way. Paper trails!
You do know that argent really means silver right?
The name derives from Latin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin) argentum, which derives from the Greek 'Αργυρος, translated as silver (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver) or white metal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal). The word argent had the same meaning in Old French blazon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blazon), from which it passed into the English language.

[redmt79]

I have always known the silver to be referred to as "Argent", so to me the three grille descriptions of Black w/Argent, Argent, and Argent w/chrome would be accurate regardless.

I also have a woodgrain glovebox door on my Custom.

[cuse]

Yeah, no? What does that mean? Are you saying that Ford never called them argent?

Post where it is you are getting your information from. I am going to see if I can find where I got my info from. I know it specifically said argent. In fact it specifically said what I posted originally.

Correct. You meant it's both which is wholly visible, but not to Ford. Since the face is all chrome, it's technically only a chrome grille even though the sides aren't as per Ford.

Sources? Probably the Ford's microfiches.

[cuse]

You do know that argent really means silver right?
The name derives from Latin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin) argentum, which derives from the Greek 'Αργυρος, translated as silver (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver) or white metal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal). The word argent had the same meaning in Old French blazon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blazon), from which it passed into the English language.

dey say sumthin, college boy? ?>:<?

[Bart68]

I have factory duel batteries in my Bronco, was this an option or standard equipment?

[redmt79]

Factory dual batteries was an option, you should have the factory battery tray and fender bracket on the driver side.