Aluminum continues to be an innovation for F-Series starting with the 2015 F-150. What would you like to know about the F-150’s aluminum body from the engineers?

 

It's been brought up a couple of times, but what isolation measures were taken where the aluminum touches the steel frame and suspension components? Also, what pre-paint surface prep has been done to ensure long term paint adherence and durability.

 

Also curious on changes made to the paint process over previous generation trucks.

 

Not to answer for them, but aluminum body parts, paint procedures and using dissimilar metals has been around for decades with no problems. Road tractors use aluminum cabs, steel frames and fasteners of all different types to hold them together.

 

I think it will be interesting to see some of these trucks 3 years from now in MN after being neglected by owners that think that because they are aluminum bodies, they won't "rust". Aluminum corrodes through galvanic corrosion, as well as exposure to salt. I wonder how many owners believe they are buying these trucks not only for the weight savings, but buying a "Delorean that will never rust "...not that I've seen Ford make any claims as such.

 

I wonder about that lol.....

 

The new trucks seem to have issues with the doors being misaligned from the factory. My doors don't line up quite right, and it seems to be a pretty widespread issue. Is the shift to aluminum responsible for this? I don't remember this being an issue with the previous generation trucks.

Just wait a couple years and come to Cambridge, you can look at mine.

 

Thanks everyone, we'll see what the engineers have to say.

 

Here's what the engineer had to say:
Extensive testing and validation completed on all attachment points.

 

From the Engineer:
There has been a progression over many years of the paint process. With the steel vehicles, quite a number of years ago we improved the corrosion resistance by changing the pretreatment from Iron Phosphate to Zinc Phosphate. When aluminum hoods were introduced, the systems were upgraded to a high edge e-coat (higher flouride levels). The final step was the change over of the pretreatment to zirconium oxide from zinc phosphate.

 

Traditionally, aluminum has been more difficult (and costlier) to repair. Should we expect that to be the case with the new aluminum F-150 also? Will any repair centers be able to repair, or only Ford certified repair centers?

Do the F-150 parts shortage also affect repair times?

Interested in trading in for a 2015+ model but want to know how the aluminum construction might affect repairs (I always seem to get into minor accidents).

 

I love it! Finally a statement from the engineers the marketing people couldn't tinker with. Post more responses like this and you'll see the level of engagement we all were hoping for.

 

Thanks Herman!

 

I see in the posts here that mounts to frame etc have been coated to prevent galvanic corossion, but how well does water borne paint adhere to the aluminum in the locations that dissimilar metals are in contact? I am in the collision industry and remember the previous attempt to use water borne coatings, the coatings failed and chemical borne coatings were brought back.

 

Aluminum hoods for the F150 were first introduced in 1998 I think.