1978 FORD BRONCO XLT RANGER

1978 Ford Bronco Description

1978 FORD BRONCO XLT RANGER PROJECT IN PROGRESS. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO NOT RUNNING. I WAS TOLD BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REBUILT.

THE FIRST YEARS I OWNED IT, I HAD TO INSTALL AN IGNITION MODULE, AND REBUILD THE CARBURETOR TO GET IT RUNNING.

THE SECOND YEAR, I DID A COMPLETE TUNE-UP, CAP, ROTOR, PLUGS, AND WIRES, AND RAN A COMPRESSION TEST. 7 CYLINDERS WERE ABOUT 135, AND NUMBER ONE CYLINDER WAS ABOUT 60. I CHALKED IT UP TO A LIFTER NOT PUMPING UP FROM SITTING SO LONG

THE THIRD YEAR, I EVACUATED ALL THE OLD GAS, TRACED ALL THE VACUUM LEAKS, AND GOT IT RUNNING PRETTY NICE, DROVE IT AROUND MY LOT MADE SURE IT SHIFTED, AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE WORKED.

THIS YEAR, I PULLED THE SPARK PLUGS, CHECKED COMPRESSION 7 CYLINDERS ABOUT 145, AND CYLINDER 1 CAME UP TO ABOUT 95. I PURCHASED VALVE COVER GASKETS TO CHECK ALL THE LIFTERS AND ROCKER ARMS FOR MY LOWER COMPRESSION ON NUMBER ONE, BUT HAVE YET TO PULL THE VALVE COVERS. I DID HOW EVER: REPLACED THE FUEL TANK WITH A PLASTIC TANK, REPAIRED THE STEERING COLUMN AS THE TILT WAS BROKEN, AND INSTALLED A NEW BLINKER MECHANISM, REPAIRED THE AIR CONDITIONER, INSTALLED A NEW TEMPERATURE SENDER, AND OIL PRESSURE SENDER, NEW WATER PUMP, NEW FAN CLUTCH, AND BELTS.

OK, SO, WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T: RUNS PRETTY GOOD, STILL NEEDS SOME LOVE IN THAT DEPARTMENT, I WOULD PULL THE VALVE COVERS, AND CHECK TO MAKE SURE THERE ISN'T A BENT ROD, OR DEAD LIFTER ON NUMBER 1 (400'S ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BENDING RODS) AC WORKS VERY WELL, IT STILL HAD R12 IN THE SYSTEM, BUT WAS ABOUT 80 PSI ON THE HIGH SIDE. I EVACUATED THE R12, FLUSHED THE LINES, PULLED VACUUM, AND RECHARGED WITH 134A. I TRIED TO CONVERT THE HIGH AND LOW SIDE CONNECTIONS OVER, BUT THE HIGH SIDE CONVERTER IS A DIFFERENT THREAD THAN THE NEW CONNECTOR. LIGHTS WORK, BUT DIMMER SWITCH IS CHEESY, BLINKERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AND FRONT PARK LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. OIL GAUGE, TEMP GAUGE WORK, FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT. I DID INSTALL A NEW FUEL SENDER WHEN I REPLACED THE TANK, I DON'T KNOW IF ITS D.O.A., OR A WIRE IS BROKEN, OR THE GAUGE IS BROKEN. WIPERS WORK, CRUISE CONTROL IS DISCONNECTED AT THE CARB, I DON'T REMEMBER WHY I LEFT IT DISCONNECTED. THE BRAKES ARE EXTREMELY POOR, MY GUESS IS THE RUBBER LINES ON THE BRAKES ARE COLLAPSED. TRANSFER CASE SHIFTS FROM HIGH, LOW, NEUTRAL, AND 2 WHEEL. I HAD THE REAR WINDOW WORKING, BUT TODAY AS I WAS CHECKING EVERYTHING OUT, THE MOTOR GEAR STRIPPED, THE MOTOR STILL WORKS, BUT YOU CAN TELL THE GEAR IS NOT MESHING. RUST SPOTS, AS PICTURED, DRIVER DOOR BOTTOM, AND THE DASH UNDER THE BROKEN WINDSHIELD. TIRES ARE OLD AND CRAPPY

TITLE IS CLEAR, BUT I HAVNT TRANSFERED TO MY NAME.

ALL THAT SAID, THIS IS A GOOD, HONEST SOLID TRUCK, THAT NEEDS SOMEONE TO LOVE ON IT. THE FRAME IS EXTREMELY CLEAN, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY IS REALLY NICE. I THINK FOR THE PRICE, ITS A GOOD FIND, AND DEFIANTLY WORTH LOVING. I HAD 3 OF THESE BODY STYLES, AND I AM GETTING DOWN TO ONE, I JUST HAVE TO MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE.

THAT IS ALL I CAN THINK OF ON IT. FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS, ILL BE HAPPY TO LOOK INTO ANYTHING ELSE. IT IS FOR SALE ON MY LOT, AND ANYONE THAT WANTS IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME SEE IT IN PERSON.