The aluminum F150

[Tom7227]

My 02 F150 may need to be replaced in a bit. I have read a little about the plans to use aluminum in the 15's. I am not all that excited about being a trend breaker but I really don't know if there are a lot of negatives with this idea. I am wondering what you guys think, especially the body repair folks. In a way it may be nice to not have the rust problems that always crop up in 10 years or so on a PU but I don't know what sorts of problems would be faced with the new body plan.

Thanks for your time.

Tom

[Scott K]

Body shops will need to adjust, dont let that be a big concern to you. Paint peeling would be a concern, but paint, and Ford research has came a long ways in the last few years. There is a few other cool things coming out in the 2015 Trucks as well.

[jentz]

I've seen one commerical about alum.bodies.I think its a fine idea.I've always wondered when they'd start! for the northland and chemicals on the roads anyway.Alum still oxidizes and paints will come with the change.I say its about time!

[LMITOUT]

There was some good information on what owners will encounter with the aluminum bodies but someone deleted it...

[JOHNBIGDOG]

Body shops will have to adjust there procedures. There are multiple metals in the body and all have different procedures for repair, also if any Iron gets into the aluminum it will cause problems with the paint.

One thing that has come up as a concern is body grounding. If corrosion happens between the different metals.

I'm kinda excited to see what the new ecoboost engine will be like, as these F150's are becoming more like cars, people want more fuel economy.... yada yada yada.

[delcecchi]

There was some good information on what owners will encounter with the aluminum bodies but someone deleted it...

How do we know what they will encounter? We only can know what problems have been encountered in the past. Will the F150 have the issues of the shelby cobra? Seems unlikely.

[highlife4me]

I don't know why people are so concerned about an all aluminum body on a vehicle. Many auto companies have been using them for years. My 99 F150 even has an aluminum hood and the paint looks as good as it did 15 years ago. I am just surprised that an all aluminum truck body didn't come sooner.

[LMITOUT]

How do we know what they will encounter?

Like I said, it was in the other thread.

[CAMAN]

I don't know why people are so concerned about an all aluminum body on a vehicle. Many auto companies have been using them for years. My 99 F150 even has an aluminum hood and the paint looks as good as it did 15 years ago. I am just surprised that an all aluminum truck body didn't come sooner.

Well you're one of the lucky one's. ...

http://www.lemonlaw.com/wordpress/more-problems-for-ford-paint-defects-in-2000-2005-models/

Now I'm not saying the new paints will cause problems, no one really knows what's going to happen. Would I want to put $40k+ into something that has a higher possibility of a defect that can affect resale as much as the paint job? Probably not....

[fish_eat_sleep]

Again though, that is just sloppy handling of materials, not the innovation and ideas behind painted aluminum. If done correctly I think it would be no worse than a steel part. Iv seen the clear coat come of steel on cars that sit in the sun down south, rusty fenders in the north. Bad manufacturing discipline at the ford hood painting station. all things considered, theres no real reason to be afraid.. yet.

[polarsusd81]

For those that are concerned about paint adhesion to aluminum, it was an issue Ford had a while back. I feel however, they have probably done a bit more research into the matter considering they are moving to a full aluminum body. I am in the curtainwall industry, we use extruded aluminum, formed aluminum, and aluminum panels on every project and have been doing so for a long time. If properly prepped, the paint finish on aluminum is every bit as durable and long lasting as it is on steel. There are hundreds of buildings all over the world that have painted aluminum over 35 years old and still look good, without an bi-annual wax and weekly washes.

Yes, contamination can cause issues. I think Ford learned a very expensive lesson a while back about it though. They seem to have a pretty high standard for quality control over the last several years and prep/paint is surely high on that list.

What I am more concerned about with the aluminum body panels is how well they will stand up to the harsh chemicals that are used to treat the roads. Aluminum can and will corrode if it is exposed to those chemicals. I would assume the body panels will be painted both sides, or at least have a good primer on the non-exposed surface. Any cut edges should also be treated as they would be exposed and prone to corrosion. If I were buying one of the new aluminum bodied F-150's (which I plan to do about 3 years from now) I would place a rubberized undercoating as a top priority on my list of truck accessories. That will go a long way in preventing any corrosion from happening.

[RebelSS]

I have to agree with most of the above posts....Ford has come a long way,and I think they learned a lot. There are a lot of aluminum painted bodies/panels on many cars out there that do just fine. Look at your painted aluminum boat....never seen a problem with those. Now, if Ford could put some REAL bumpers on my F-150 that I couldn't bend or twist with my hands, I'd be happy.

The following is only a partial list of manufacturers who use aluminum body panels:

ACURA

NSX (ALL), RL (HOOD, DECKLID, FENDERS AND TRUNK)

ASTON MARTIN

VANQUISH (BODY PANELS), DB9 (HOOD)

BMW

Z8 & 7 SERIES (BODY PANELS), 3, 5, 6 SERIES (HOOD, DOORS, BODY PANELS), X5, X6 SERIES (HOOD, BODY PANELS)

BUICK

LESABRE (HOOD), PARK AVENUE (HOOD), RENDEZVOUS (LIFTGATE)

CADILLAC

CTS (HOOD), DEVILLE (HOOD), ESCALADE (LIFTGATE), SEVILLE (HOOD)

CHEVROLET

SUBURBAN (LIFTGATE), TAHOE (LIFTGATE), VENTURE (HOOD)

CHRYSLER

CONCORDE, LHS, PACIFICA (HOODS)

FERRARI

360 MODENA (BODY PANELS)

FORD

EXPEDITION (HOOD & LIFTGATE), EXPLORER (HOOD AND FENDERS), F-150 (HOOD), LINCOLN NAVIGATOR (HOOD & LIFTGATE), LINCOLN LS (HOOD, FENDER & TRUNK LID), RANGER (HOOD), LINCOLN TOWN CAR (HOOD), GT (BODY PANELS), MUSTANG GT (HOOD)

GM

YUKON, YUKON XL (LIFTGATES)

HONDA

S2000 (HOOD), INSIGHT (BODY PANELS)

INFINITI

Q (HOOD & TRUNK LID) I (HOOD & TRUNK LID)

JAGUAR

XJ, S-TYPE (HOOD)

LANCER

XJ, S-TYPE (HOOD), EVOLUTION VIII (ROOF)

LEXUS

SC430 (HOOD)

LOTUS

ELISE SPORT 190 (BODY PANELS)

MERCEDES

CL500, SL500 AND OTHER MODELS

MERCURY

MOUNTAINEER

NISSAN

ALTIMA, MAXIMA (HOODS & TRUNK LIDS)

OLDSMOBILE

AURORA (HOOD & TRUNK LID), SILHOUETTE (HOOD)

OPEL

SPEEDSTER (BODY PANELS)

PANOZ

ROADSTER (BODY PANELS)

PEUGEOT

407 (HOOD)

PORSCHE

CAYENNE (HOOD), 911 (HOOD)

PLYMOUTH

PROWLER (HOOD, DOORS & TRUNK LID)

PONTIAC

BONNEVILLE, MONTANA (HOODS)

RANGE ROVER / LAND ROVER

HOODS, DOORS, SIDE PANELS

SAAB

9-2X (HOOD)

SUBARU

9-2X (HOOD), GT (HOOD), LEGACY (HOOD, BUMPERS, SUNROOF)

VOLVO

(HOODS & TRUNK LIDS)

[fishing tech]

I am looking at getting a new f150. My thoughts are it saves 700lbs which is great. But will the panels dent, tear, or even crack easier? I might just get a left over 13 or 14 and get a new one again in about 2018. I hate buying 1st edition stuff.

[BobT]

When I look at my aluminum wheels I can't help but wonder how they will protect the body from the corrosion I see.

[fishing tech]

When I look at my aluminum wheels I can't help but wonder how they will protect the body from the corrosion I see.

Yep

[Smoker]

I guess I have had a trailer with painted alum. for a few years now. The frame is metal. That alum. is holding up a lot better than the frame. If painted right there will be no problem. It is raw alum. on the inside.

[Ufatz]

Egads boys! My first little M-Benz had aluminum doors and trunk lid in 1965. My 1963 Land Rover (back when they were REAL vehicles) was galvanized frame and aluminum everywhere. Far as I know that lovely beast is STILL running around way up north some place.

By now Ford surely must have the technology to treat and paint aluminum. What they CAN'T seem to do is create a truck with the finesse, comfort, styling and rugged durability of the Silverado or the Tahoe. But if they keep trying they'll get there. Someday. Har Har Har!!

[Tom7227]

After some reading it seems as if the thing will be something that can be repaired but I am not sure about whether I want to be a first timer. The stuff I have read dealt with the issue of body shops and whether they would equippped to work on them. Added costs of equipment and training, special expensive glues to hold things in place, and parts that may cost up to 40% more than standard steel. The info I have indicated that insurance companies will have to develop additional data on losses before they will be able to adjust rates if warranted.

[Ufatz]

My very first thought?: who is going to repair and repaint those body panels? Without meaning to resort to tasteless sarcasm, I am more concerned that our major vehicle makers do a better job of quality control and safety, like warning people of deadly ignition switches, than I am some shiny new aluminum body panels.

And insurance companies will go nutz over this.

But I am not knocking it-progress is a good thing,

[Scott K]

You guys are like a bunch of old woman!

Every new model, and vehicle on the road needs to have the books updated, this is nothing new. Every new vehicle needs special tools, special procedures, special labor books. Everyone, not just one with aluminum panels. Those of which have been used on many vehicles in the past. Most of your larger, more updated body shops are all set up for painting aluminum already, it isnt new! Sure, small, old timer shops may get left in the dust, but that goes for every business out there. If you dont advance with the times, you stay in the past.

I know a lot of shops that refused to work on that new fancy fuel injection system back in the 80's, guess what, they didnt make it to the 90's. How many repair shops out there say I am not going to work on anything with computers, because it requires all this expensive equipment? In the 80, the only ones that said that, were the ones who closed the doors before 1990. If a body shop cant stay with the times, they will go with the carb, non computer shops that closed many years ago.

The aluminum body panels arent being used to have shiny panels, they are being used to lower the vehicle weight down, so they can get the vehicles to pass the new fuel standards that are being imposed by the federal government.

As for those of you comparing it to your Keystone aluminum wheels of the 80's, well, this aluminum isnt the same. This is the same aluminum that is being used on the space shuttles. The metal can withstand high, and low temperatures, without expanding, or contracting. The metal can withstand a lot of impact, before bending, or leaving a dent, or a puncture. The body panels can be re used, repaired, and recycled. Panels will more then likely when being replaced, have a core on them.

The metal isnt really new, just new to vehicles. It is very light weight, very durable, flexible, and resists dents.

I have seen demonstrations of a truck sitting about 20 yards out, getting drilled with golf balls, and it didnt leave a dent, nor chip paint.

With the new fuel standards getting stricter and stricter, you will see other vehicles following along as well.

[LMITOUT]

Every new model, and vehicle on the road needs to have the books updated, this is nothing new. Every new vehicle needs special tools, special procedures, special labor books. Everyone, not just one with aluminum panels. Those of which have been used on many vehicles in the past. Most of your larger, more updated body shops are all set up for painting aluminum already, it isnt new! Sure, small, old timer shops may get left in the dust, but that goes for every business out there. If you dont advance with the times, you stay in the past.

[Scott K]

Lmit, you are so predictable!