1978 Chevy Truck Specs and Features

In 1978, Chevy trucks were rapidly improving, and consequently, their specifications did as well. Whether you’re restoring a square body Chevy truck, looking to buy a used one, or just feeling nostalgic, understanding the technical specifications and features for these trucks can be helpful.

1978 C/K Pickup Differences

In ’78, the C/K series pickup trucks had been joined by “The Big Ten” a short-lived model designed to fall in between the C10 and the C20 in terms of capability. The biggest difference between the C10 and the C20 was their gross vehicle weight capacity, and the biggest difference between the C-series and K-series pickups was that one had two-wheel drive and the other was four-wheel drive, but there were a few other differences as well.

When you start to look at things like the axle ratio and brakes, the differences start to become more clear.

The C20

Engine and Transmission Specifications

Of course, when it comes to performance, people are most interested in engine options. Though all of the C and K series came standard with one of Chevy’s famed inline-six cylindered engines, there were many different engine and transmission options based on which pickup you felt would best meet your needs. There were both small and big-block V8 engines available in 1978.

Other than cylinders and horsepower, there are actually a remarkable number of similarities between the engines. They all use an oiled paper air filter, a throwaway style oil filter, and have similar maintenance routines.

Perhaps just as important as the engine is the transmission. For 1978, there were four available transmissions, one of which was automatic. The automatic transmission was the only option for the LF4 and LF8 engines, which were the largest displacement engine choices. The default transmission for other engines was the Muncie three-speed manual.

Chevy Truck Prices

At first glance, the prices of the entire Chevy lineup might appear to be remarkably close, but that’s why we’ve included a figure that accounts for inflation. The buying value of a dollar was very different in 1978 than it is today.

Though the cost of pickups at the time was still relatively low, many of the most popular options were “a la carte” and could increase the cost of a truck significantly.

Optional equipment, paint colors, engines, and all other variables in each Chevy truck are represented on the original build list as an “RPO code.” Knowing these RPO codes can be helpful if you’re shopping for a used C10 and want to know if the original equipment is intact.

RPO Codes

After reviewing the cost of individual amenities as adjusted for inflation, it’s easy to see why trim packages were successful for Chevy trucks. Not only did they bundle together some of the most popular features, but they also provided a discount when purchased that way. The original C10 trim packages for 1978 included the Scottsdale, the Cheyenne, and the top-of-the-line Silverado.

1978 Chevy Truck Exterior Options

Two-Tone Colors

1978 didn’t bring many new colors for the Chevy truck lineup, but the abundant color combinations offered ample opportunity to customize your truck’s exterior. In keeping with the ‘70s, there are somehow four colors that are either “tan” or “brown.” Though neither of those palettes is particularly eye-catching on its own, they were most frequently paired with bolder colors to create interesting combinations.

Stepside or Fleetside pickups could come in a solid paint scheme or a Conventional Two-Tone where the secondary color was painted on the cab roof and back panel only.

Fleetside pickups had a few additional options. There was a Special Two-Tone, where the secondary color was used in-between the upper and lower moldings (if a trim package with moldings was not being added then the moldings needed to be added ala carte). They also had the option of a Deluxe Two-Tone, which was the same as the Special Two-Tone but included the top of the cab as well.

Truck Bed Options

Stepside Style Bed

Stepside vs Fleetside

One of the first bed-related choices that customers ordering a new Chevy truck in 1978 had to make was whether they wanted a Stepside or a Fleetside bed. The Stepside essentially has a slightly narrower portion before the rear fender, creating a “step” that some found desirable. This was overwhelmingly the less popular choice though, with more people gravitating towards the smooth sides of a Fleetside truck.

The preference for Fleetsides wasn’t simply due to appearances though, there were also more options available for Fleetside trucks, and they had a larger volume capacity than their Stepsided siblings.

In its short bed form, the Stepside had a volume of 39.7 cubic feet while the Fleetside had 58.4 cubic feet. In long bed form, the Stepside increased to 49.8 cubic feet and the Fleetside increased to 74.3 cubic feet.

Short vs Long Bed

Short and long beds were available in Stepside and Fleetside variants for Chevy trucks. The short bed was 6.5 feet and the long bed was 8 feet. This foot and a half difference has affected the popularity of both models fairly considerably.

Though both short and long beds were sold fairly evenly in 1978, people looking for used Chevy trucks now overwhelmingly prefer the short bed variant. Fortunately, there are ways of shortening the bed.

Steel vs Wood Floored Beds

The short bed Fleetside was exclusively sold in a steel floor, but for a long bed or any size of Stepside pickup the floor was comprised of “kiln-dried” sealed wood boards held in position with steel skid strips. These wood floors are great if they’ve been kept in good condition, but sadly many have not and require extensive restoration.

While steel beds in need of refresh can simply be replaced by removing your C10's truck bed, wood beds require a little more work. The best approach is to work with them the way you might wood boards on a deck that need to be refinished and resealed. Sand away any parts that have become damaged or splintered and any damaged coating, then reseal with a polyurethane coat.

Some bold DIYers have noted that the “T” door strips from a home supply shop can serve as a replacement for the steel skid strips, and recommend replacing any rotting or damaged boards with white pine.

1978 Chevy Truck Parts

Given the customization options and relatively affordable cost, it’s no wonder that 1978 was such a successful year for Chevy trucks. Thanks to their popularity at the time, we have a plethora of used trucks from this era just waiting to be bought, restored, or modified into something wholly unique.

Whether you’re putting the finishing touches on a C10 you’re restoring or looking for a part to complete some much needed C10 maintenance, you’ll find Chevy C10 parts here at CJ’s.

Classic trucks are growing in popularity, and as they do we’ll continue to see more opportunities for taking these old specifications and using them in new ways.

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