Factory retooling
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Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Detroit
I can answer all questions on this matter, I've been involved in the P552 project since 2011. This has not been a simple "change robot head" retooling, all tooling related to the aluminum body is new, and the retooling has been going on since 2011. It's been a huge learning curve for Ford and everyone in this industry that has worked on this project, with new hurdles daily. There are huge risks involved with this launch, this is Ford's bread and butter vehicle and honestly I don't know how they will manage to get this product out on time based on the current dimensional issues with the body. The heat wave that hit Detroit has caused many issues with fit and finish of the truck, doors that are no longer within specs, twisting like a pretzel. When you only use one steel part within a door and the rest aluminum the door takes on some crazy shapes. I can go on and on about issues we are facing but I wouldn't want to scare any of you from buying a launch vehicle.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maine, Virginia
I can answer all questions on this matter, I've been involved in the P552 project since 2011. This has not been a simple "change robot head" retooling, all tooling related to the aluminum body is new, and the retooling has been going on since 2011. It's been a huge learning curve for Ford and everyone in this industry that has worked on this project, with new hurdles daily. There are huge risks involved with this launch, this is Ford's bread and butter vehicle and honestly I don't know how they will manage to get this product out on time based on the current dimensional issues with the body. The heat wave that hit Detroit has caused many issues with fit and finish of the truck, doors that are no longer within specs, twisting like a pretzel. When you only use one steel part within a door and the rest aluminum the door takes on some crazy shapes. I can go on and on about issues we are facing but I wouldn't want to scare any of you from buying a launch vehicle.
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Joined: Jul 2014
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The Detroit Free Press reports today that about 50% of the body shop has been demolished making way for the new equipment to build the new F150. Staging areas for the new machines are in place and a Ford representative says that to this point everything is on schedule. A majority of the conveyor system is being replaced. It appears that the Detroit Free Press has assigned a reporter to the factory retooling and she's giving almost daily reports as to status and the progress made. The schedule is still in place for the September 22 nd start of assembly of pre-production models.
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Moore558
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Aug 25, 2008 10:50 PM
