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Model year · Fourth Generation

1988 Bronco

The engine range goes all-EFI

For 1988 the 351 Windsor H.O. gained fuel injection, a Mazda five-speed manual arrived and transfer-case skid plates became standard.

This page covers U.S.-market 1988 Broncos. With the 351 H.O. conversion, every regular engine was now fuel-injected. The historical 43,074 total is provisional because it exactly repeats the published 1987 number and no Ford production record has been located.

Why it matters

1988 completed the fourth generation’s EFI transition and introduced the five-speed manual that continued into the 1990s.

What this page covers

Market: United States; fourth-generation Bronco.

Body styles: Two-door full-size wagon with removable rear hardtop

What changed for this year

351 H.O. gains EFI
The 5.8-liter 351 Windsor H.O. changed from four-barrel carburetion to electronic fuel injection, making the engine range all-EFI. [1] [2]
Mazda five-speed
The Mazda M5OD-R2 five-speed manual entered Bronco use; distinguish it from lighter-duty M5OD variants by application and identification. [1] [3]
Skid plate standard
Historical Ford chronology identifies transfer-case skid plates as standard for 1988. [1]

Models and trims

Base, XL, XLT and Eddie Bauer
The established trim ladder continued. Verify Eddie Bauer or other package identity through certification labels, original equipment and paperwork. [1] [4]

Engines and transmissions

4.9-liter EFI inline six
The standard 300 six continued at a commonly listed 145 hp and 265 lb-ft SAE net. [2]
5.0-liter EFI V8
The optional 302 continued at a commonly listed 185 hp and 270 lb-ft. [2]
5.8-liter EFI V8
The optional 351W H.O. is listed by one consistent database at 210 hp and 315 lb-ft; the generation dossier previously lacked a directly confirmed rating, so attribution remains visible. [2]

Capability and specifications

Provisional production
Historical tables report 43,074, identical to their 1987 entry. Without factory records or an alternate total, it remains provisional. [1] [5]
TTB and 8.8 chassis
Dana 44 Twin Traction Beam front suspension and Ford 8.8-inch rear axle underpin the truck; verify actual axle tags and condition. [1] [2]

Colors and interiors

Factory finish
Use certification-label codes and period literature to verify paint/interior. Restored two-tone or Eddie Bauer colors are not proof of original package status. [4]

Options and packages

Transmission and Touch Drive
Manual, automatic and electronic-shift configurations require component-level verification; inspect controls, wiring and transfer-case identification. [1] [3]

Safety and recalls

Rear ABS and driveline inspection
Rear-wheel ABS remained distinct from four-wheel ABS. Inspect warning operation, brakes, EFI, clutch/transmission, TTB, steering, roof seals and corrosion. [1]

Owner and buyer notes

Identify the five-speed correctly
Confirm the transmission tag/case and shifter application before ordering parts; the M5OD family includes variants not interchangeable by name alone. [3]

Stories from this year

The carburetor leaves the Bronco lineup
When the 351 H.O. gained EFI, Ford completed a three-year transition that had begun with the 302 and then the inline six. [1] [2]

Sources and footnotes

Bracketed references beside a fact lead to the document that supports it.

  1. Ford fourth-generation Bronco history Manufacturer history and chronology
  2. Automobile Catalog fourth-generation Bronco specifications Secondary specifications database
  3. Core Shifters Ford M5OD truck transmission guide Specialist parts/application reference
  4. LMR Eddie Bauer Bronco history Specialist package reference
  5. Blue Oval Trucks production numbers Specialist historical compilation

See something missing or wrong? Send a correction or source.

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