2015 F150 Tow Test vs. Dodge and Chevy

ruffdog · Jul 24, 2014

fordmantpw said:
As sld mentioned, the block is not cast iron. It is CGI - Compacted Graphite Iron.

I don't recall thrown rods being a big issue with the 3.5L EB. Like your cast iron block comment, I'm sure you were just misinformed and you thought you had to relay that bit of misinformation here to attempt to make a point. Besides, the 3.5L EB will carry on in the F150, mostly the same as it is today.

Maybe you should frequent the EB forums more if your not seeing the blocks vented by a busted rod. You are misinformed when you said the EB only has a minor CAC problem. When the CAC sends a load of water sludge on top of a piston, it may hydro-lock and bend or break a rod. A tad bit more than a minor problem.

Even the F150 forums turn into a EB is better than anyone else's truck including fords own 5.0. It just gets tiring and the propaganda keeps getting more flamboyant.

ruffdog · Jul 24, 2014

CGI is "CAST IRON" !!! The strength of it is between ductile iron and gray iron and is of course CASTED into shapes like engine blocks. If CGI is not cast iron, what is it? Duh! It sure is better than the 3.5 aluminum block.

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94BULLITT · Jul 24, 2014

Ford has been using aluminum hoods since the early/mid 90's. They also used an aluminum bed on the Raptors that ran Baja.

RollingsFarms · Jul 24, 2014

I still hate the looks of the new F-150. I absolutely hate that front end. I like the current one MUCH better.

fordmantpw · Jul 24, 2014

RollingsFarms said:
I still hate the looks of the new F-150. I absolutely hate that front end. I like the current one MUCH better.

I like the current one better too. I don't hate the '15, but I do like the looks of the current front end better.

ruffdog · Jul 24, 2014

Aluminum used in doors, lift gates, and hoods is much different than the body. You can hem the edges in a hemmer and use bonding agents with bracing to make a solid structure. The main concern is cracking on the edges of the hem. With the body, you have to isolate the aluminum from any steel. A simple thing like the grounding wires and straps, (steel wire ends and screws) forget about it. You have to protect it from contamination at a much higher level than steel. They recommend that body shops have a aluminum only area using aluminum only tools. Aluminum hoods was EASY compared to this.

Reyer Farms · Jul 24, 2014

ruffdog said:
Aluminum used in doors, lift gates, and hoods is much different than the body. You can hem the edges in a hemmer and use bonding agents with bracing to make a solid structure. The main concern is cracking on the edges of the hem. With the body, you have to isolate the aluminum from any steel. A simple thing like the grounding wires and straps, (steel wire ends and screws) forget about it. You have to protect it from contamination at a much higher level than steel. They recommend that body shops have a aluminum only area using aluminum only tools. Aluminum hoods was EASY compared to this.

Sounds like you have spent some time in a car plant. Sometimes I wake up to the rattle of conveyor chain and cold sweats. Thankful everyday not to hear it.

jejeosborne · Jul 25, 2014

ruffdog said:
It is good that ford learned from their mistakes. After seeing plenty of rods sticking through the aluminum blocks of the 3.5, they went with the cast iron block in the 2.7. Chrysler knew that back with the PT Cruiser and their turbo. The turbo's get the iron block.

ruffdog said:
Maybe you should frequent the EB forums more if your not seeing the blocks vented by a busted rod. You are misinformed when you said the EB only has a minor CAC problem. When the CAC sends a load of water sludge on top of a piston, it may hydro-lock and bend or break a rod. A tad bit more than a minor problem.

Even the F150 forums turn into a EB is better than anyone else's truck including fords own 5.0. It just gets tiring and the propaganda keeps getting more flamboyant.

I do frequent the F150 forums because I own one, you too must have a vested interest. I have only seen a couple post on this subject. One I know was a motor with a tuner so we know the demographic profile of that driver. The other was questioned and pictures were never provided. One could google search any engine from any manufacturer and find similar failures. Sure, it would be great if the block were CGI but is is definitely not what I would call a mistake.

Die hard V8, no replacement for displacement, technology challenged demographic types do have a bone to pick with these small engines which have proven to be very successful. It shouldn't be embarrassing to be outperformed by smaller displacement engines in today's world but we have to wait for these gear heads to put down the beer, shave the mullet, turn off the heavy metal and educate themselves. It all started when the ricer community showed up at the drag strips with their modded out imports beating the good ole american muscle.

dodge man · Jul 25, 2014

I went drag racing last Friday night at a local 1/8 mile dragstrip. I saw a lot of good old American V8's running and not many imports. I also didn't see any mullets.