Hi I'm new to this. I have a 1969 Ford F100 with a 390 in it, the problem with it is the 390 had a blown head gasket and the engine sat for 15 years. I'm restoring this truck to be my sons truck as I am only the second owner. I'm thinking of doing an engine swap with a newer engine maybe a 5.0 fuel injected. I would like some ideas on this as to what I should do. Thank you

 

Easiest would be to rebuild the 390 IMO. A 5.0 efi would be a nice swap in an F-100, or even a 4.6 if you aren't going to tow much.

 

I would just rebuild the 390. JMHO.

 

Not a big fan of 5.0 in trucks...stock 5.0 that is.
A fuel injected 351 w with a zf-5 would be killer if your gonna do a f/I motor swap. JMO.
But, a rebuilt 390 would throw that truck around just fine

 

Don't expect an efi 351 to get any better mileage than the old 390.

 

Assuming your son is young I would take the time & do the modern swap. Here is the problem as I see it. When we all die there will be so very few who know what to do with 1 of these dinosaur engines, parts will be expensive & very difficult to find. Doing a late model 5.0 or 4.6 (while neither anything I personally would want) swap correctly with all on board systems should be something he could take to any shop & have worked on relatively easily. The only difference would be it is wrapped in old skin. Don't forget to wire in the connector for diagnosis.

Think about what things will be like 20yrs from now when balanced against today & 20 yrs back. A modern swap will still be a dinosaur at that time but at least more like what people know. Of course you also have the purest approach.