If you could buy a used, crew cab, short bed, XLT, 4x4, diesel, with an auto tranny, in good shape. What year is the best for power and reliability with mods? Did they make em crew cab short bed? Thanks for any replies.

 

They made a f-250 cc short bed. I guess a 97 would be the best, stock hp rating is 225 while the 94.5-96 has 215.

 

I have 97 cc swb with the psd and i love it what a truck

 

Oh yea its F250 short box XLT

 

Oh yea 1997 gotta be best, 307,600 miles on mine and no major problems. Runs like a champ.
----------------jeremy

 

Oh yea, 1997 cc short bed. pretty much stock.

 

It took them until '97 to make some important upgrades to the automatic transmission. The earlier year trannies can be upgraded during a rebuild but the 97's came with the stronger internal hard parts already. They're all pretty much the same truck. They are all GREAT!

 

Ill agree I have a 97 that I rebuilt engine after 250,000 miles and the reason I did then is my fault I put starting fluid in it. Thats a Big no no. But I also had A 2001 F250 and currently have a 2002 F 550 that I pull a 5th wheel with both are nice. But there's something about the 97, that I love to drive it One thing Im a vent window kind of guy. Just love it what can I say.

 

there all good man just not mine.
Mitch

 

Thanks everyone, I might be trading my truck in on one, just have to sell mine and find a nice 97. What kind of power can be coaxed RELIABLY out of these engines? About how much should I expect to pay for one?

 

your wallet is the only thing that limits you as to how much power you can get out of the engine. as far as how much you should expect to pay for one, check out www.kbb.com or www.nadaguides.com

 

Plenty. As in more than you are used to coming from any gasser. It's a different kind of power. Heavier, deeper, torquier. They feel really good on the road and they pull. Boy do they pull. And with decent fuel mileage, too.
Reliability is a relative term. If you are going to just drive it and not maintain it or do your own repairs then it might not be the right truck for you. On the other hand, if you hang out here from time to time and study and ask questions then everything that can go wrong will be covered and of course all the repairs will be described in detail.
I would say you can expect to pay from $5,000 to $12,000 depending on mileage, condition and how much the previous owner knows and loves his truck. If he always just paid for maintenance and repairs then he doesn't know better and he may be sick and tired of dumping money into it. There are many repairs that could cost $600 at a repair shop that you can do yourself at home with basic tools and coaching for $100-$150.