Swap out 5.0 for 5.8
 

My brother has a 92 Bronco with a 5.0. It looks like the motor may be DOA. If it is indeed dead, I suggested he swap in a 5.8. He said the 5.8 is only good for another 15 or 20 horsepower. I'm not a Ford guy, so I don't know. Coming from the Chevy world, the 350 is much preferred over the 305. I assumed the same goes for the 5.0 vs the 5.8? Anyways, I have a two part question: Is there an advantage to going with the 5.8 over the 5.0, and if so what is involved with making it work in the Bronco?

His plans for the Bronco is 4" of lift, 35s, winch bumper, tire carrier rear bumper. A bit more power would be good to move the extra weight. He also plans to use it for a DD, so he is concerned about mileage. :-X24

Yes the 5.8 is much preferred, it is true the 5.8 doesn't make much more HP in stock form but it makes a lot more torque especially at low rpms and it responds better to mods as you would expect.

You need a complete 5.8 EFI motor preferrable a '94+ to get the better factory roller cam, and a 28oz flexplate to match whatever trans the truck has, the 5.0 has a different balance weight. The 5.8 will bolt right in using the original 5.0 engine wiring harness, this is important DO NOT use any wiring that comes with the donor motor. With that done swap in a 5.8 PCM, hook up an exhaust and you are done.

With that package the 5.8 is a much better engine but the truck will need at least 4.10 gears too. Getting fuel milage from a lifted truck is a pipe dream, a 5.8 with 4.10 gears and longtubes should do 12-13mpg average, a 5.0 will do worse and be a total slug to drive especially on the highway.

Yupp.
I have one of each.
5.0 w/ 4.56 gears
and
5.8 w/ 3.55 gears

The 5.8 has a noticeable amount of more torque. I notice it when pulling hills.
And when you step on it, the 5.8 is like a rocket ship compared to the 5.0.

My 5.8 is in a Bronco, which is slightly heavier, and I can get 16mpgs out of it
whereas my 5.0 is in my f150 and I never get more than 14mpgs out of it.
De minimis in that department.

If you feel like messing with the conversion hassles, it would probably be worth it.

Pull the PCM from any 5.8 F150 or does it need to be a Bronco? Do the exhaust manifolds from a 5.0 match up to the 5.8?

Horsepower isn't everything, especially not in a truck.

The stock 5.0 is 185hp/270tq
The stock 5.8 is 210hp/325tq.

Torque is what you want in an suv/truck. Horsepower is for sports cars.

With a 4" lift and 35" tires, the mpg differences are going to be pretty negligible (and neither good), but the way they drive will be quite different.

Doesn't have to be a Bronco but it must be correct for that engine/trans combo.

Same heads so yes but 5.8 manifolds are a little larger internally.

Thanks all. I'm thinking a trip to PNP for all of the swap bits and a reman'd long block will likely be the route we go. What is THE ideal year(s) of F150/250 to pull the supporting bits from? Broncos are slim pickings at our local PNP, but there are usually 10-20 F series.

'94/96 (97 HD F series) Bronco's had 5.8 with roller cams and would be best bang for the buck.
On the computer, make sure it is a 5.8 computer and that the donor truck has the same transmission as what you have. (Look at door tag code to verify).
I have heard of some people using their 5.0 computer on the 5.8 and that it works. Most people swap computers though.

Consider replacing rear and front seals while easily accessible and you might want to install a speed-i-sleeve on the journals because they probably will have a groove started in them
If you are doing intake gasket and timing cover gasket, I'd do them before installing engine just in case a bolt breaks you can easily disassemble for repair.