Real Deal on new F-150 aluminum repairs

   / Real Deal on new F-150 aluminum repairs #1  

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Thought this might help a few people to think before they jump. A lot more to aluminum repairs than most people realize.



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Ford Reveals Details of All-Aluminum F-150 at CIC
Jason Stahl
By Jason Stahl
1/20/2014 9:12:59 AM


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Paul Massie, powertrain and collision product marketing manager for Ford.
Paul Massie, powertrain and collision product marketing manager for Ford.
Ever since Ford Motor Company officially announced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit that the 2015 F-150 would be entirely made of high-strength, military-grade aluminum alloy, collision repairers have had many questions about what they need to do to gear up for repairing this vehicle. Some of those questions were answered at the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) held Jan. 16-17 in Palm Springs, Calif.

展e designed the vehicle so it can be easily repaired and accessible so the customer can go where they want to get it repaired, said Paul Massie, powertrain and collision product marketing manager for Ford.

Massie stated there will be no restrictions on what body shops can repair the vehicle. Although Ford will not require a shop to have a separate clean room partitioned off with cinderblocks, it will recommend the use of curtains to separate aluminum from steel work and specific equipment to handle the repairs. The total investment for a shop that is starting from ground zero with aluminum repair is estimated to be around $50,000.

å…¸hatç—´ if you have absolutely no aluminum equipment today, Massie said. 鉄o if youæ±*e already in the aluminum business and already have the equipment and separate aluminum from steel, youæ±*e probably a long way to having the equipment you need.

Also, genuine Ford collision repair parts will be available to all shops. All parts sold will include instructions on how to properly install them.

Ford will begin its education on the 2015 F-150 and aluminum repair at the AASP/NJ Northeast Show March 21-23 at the Meadowlands. A cutaway of the vehicle will be featured so repairers can see all of its structural components. Also, engineers will be present to talk about the vehicle, and I-CAR training developed with Ford will be available.

Ford is also offering to do a presentation on the 2015 F-150 at the next CIC April 9-10 in Portland, Ore., although details are not firmed up yet. Information will also be available at NACE and SEMA.

典he goal is to make high-strength, military-grade aluminum alloy collision repair mainstream, said Massie. 展e want it to be as mainstream as it already is for steel.
 
   / Real Deal on new F-150 aluminum repairs #2  
Is the frame going to be aluminum also?
 
   / Real Deal on new F-150 aluminum repairs #3  
Is the frame going to be aluminum also?

No, frame and firewall will remain steel from what I've read. The firewall staying steel was for sound deadening purposes, apparently.
 
   / Real Deal on new F-150 aluminum repairs #4  
No big deal. When the spark plug blows out just knock the dent back in.
 
   / Real Deal on new F-150 aluminum repairs #5  
The frame is going to be a higher strength steel. That will also be an issue for repair shops. They will need to know if the frame can be straightened or not and how to weld the frame if a spring hanger or cab mount needs replacing. It'll take some time to figure it out.

I'm not sure if there will be enough to worry about but aluminum dust is a hazard. Both health and fire.
 
   / Real Deal on new F-150 aluminum repairs
  • Thread Starter
#6  
When the spark plug blows out it will stretch the aluminum of a very expensive hood. Not repairable like steel. I am sure frame and inner body will be steel. To much cost and a lot of problems trying to weld dissimilar metals. If done it will be glued together. No big deal it is done all the time with new cars.
 
   / Real Deal on new F-150 aluminum repairs
  • Thread Starter
#7  
Frames on new trucks or cars are almost never repaired these days, almost always replaced due to the fact they are made out of HHS or Boron.
A lot of the reason new stuff is totaled. Insurance company sends them to auction gets 75% back on value. They get shipped out of our country in a shipping container usually stuffed with the parts needed to repair it.
 
   / Real Deal on new F-150 aluminum repairs #8  
I was under the impression that most body shop work, and for that maner mechanical repairs is/are replacement of panels/parts rather than repairing? The last door I had fixed was "skinned" rather than straightened, pulled, hammered & bondo. If this is so, what would it matter if your new part is alum. or steel?
 
   / Real Deal on new F-150 aluminum repairs #9  
Ford has had aluminum hoods and deck lids for many years. Aluminum panels can be repaired but not as much as steel. Aluminum will warp if you get it too hot. Eighteen wheelers have had aluminum body panels for many years and most all sleepers are made of aluminum.
 
   / Real Deal on new F-150 aluminum repairs #10  
Fenders, hoods, and doors can be bolted on but if there's any damage to the cab then it'll require replacing welded or glued panels.

It's not uncommon for a truck to get sideswiped hitting the rear wheel and damaging the spring hanger. If every Ford that has minor damage to the frame is totaled out then you can bet the insurance rate to be high. It's always possible that Ford will rivet brackets to the frame so they can be replaced. I think a lot about the longevity and repair of it will be a wait and see.
 
 
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