Mopar-ford-gmc going aluminum

[mike71ssp]

Next yr and beyond steel is out/aluminum in.
Wish my charger was aluminum.....

 

[Badvert65]

My 2007 Magnum has a factory aluminum hood.

 

[72Fourspeed]

That'll lower premiums ......NOT !

 

[Gpuller]

A week ago I went to an I-CAR class on aluminum F150 repair. According to the instructor Ford and State Farm worked together on the truck. State Farm claims that the premiums will not increase if you buy this truck. Another claim is that it will not dent until golf ball sized hail.
It will be an interesting few years. In '17 (?) the Chevy will be aluminum too. The Silverado will have an aluminum frame too.
All this because of the government and their CAFE standards.

 

[Photon440]

There's a '79 Buick Regal in my yard right now (belongs to someone else) that has an aluminum trunk lid. It's not all new.

 

[WileE]

Aluminum has been widely used in the past, we repaired/ replaced many sheet metal parts. But now, it's more widely used in suspensions, and now in truck cabs & beds. Another example of the EPA costing us more money.

 

[Histoy]

It's great news for the ALCOA plant in our area.

 

[wannadrag]

Aluminum oxidizes front salt.One has to wonder how it will hold up in the Midwest winter salt.

 

[Photon440]

Aluminum oxidizes front salt.One has to wonder how it will hold up in the Midwest winter salt.

Ford claims that they are more corrosion resistant than steel, who knows. I do know someone with a fleet of aluminum fishing boats that live a lot of their life in salt water and they look rock solid after a few decades.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Aluminum front end Max Wedge cars might make a comeback!

Certain alloys are better for corrosion resistance than others. Aluminum tends to grow an oxide skin on it anyway.

 

[clemul]

Will be interesting to see how galvanic corrosion affects these cars where aluminum and steel meet.

 

[HT413]

Will be interesting to see how galvanic corrosion affects these cars where aluminum and steel meet.

Great point, but most mild steels and aluminum alloys aren't too far off from each other. I bet somewhere on most modern cars that use aluminum suspension, there is a magnesium sacrificial anode tucked away and I'd think aluminum body panels would be much the same.

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Ford claims that they are more corrosion resistant than steel, who knows. I do know someone with a fleet of aluminum fishing boats that live a lot of their life in salt water and they look rock solid after a few decades.

Oh yeah, I'd bet these new panels will eliminate any corrosion issues for the life of the vehicle. I'm sure they will be coated in something on both sides, so this may signal a significant shift in the coatings industry as well.

 

[Gpuller]

Galvanic corrosion was discussed in depth at the I-CAR class. No air tools are to be used in assembly or dis-assembly. It will create heat and will damage the coating on the steel bolts. That's when corrosion will start. Most of the hardware is a one time use fastener. When you buy a new panel and it requires new fasteners they will be included with the part.
According to the instructor all of the galvanic corrosion is human error.

 

[Donny]

Where's the worlds leading source of Bauxite (sp)? Jamaica!

 

[Photon440]

Jamaica? #7 on the list. Australia is #1, seven times Jamaica's output.