Galvanic corrosion is caused by the contact of dissimilar metals and is far less of a cathodic process than salt exposure so I don't understand your comment. Aluminum in it's pure for is susceptible to corrosion. Most aluminum used in aviation or for body panels like ford uses is highly alloyed and far more resistant to corrosion. That said, the alloyed sheets of aluminum come "Bare" or "Clad" most of the aluminum sheets I use in fabrication (helicopters) is claded or treated with a conversion compound called alodine, this basically forms a layer of corrosion on the surface of the aluminum in turn creating corrosion resistance. As far as repairability after an accident goes, this would depend more on the temper of the aluminum T1,2,3,4,5,6,etc, T1 being softest on up. I use T3 2024 mostly and T3 is easily straightened an smoothed with slap hammers or hammer and dolly. Now keeping in mind that I am a regular guy that is not an engineer and my knowledge of aluminum barely scratches the surface, how much do you think the Ford engineers actually know about it. I highly doubt they would put something on the road that will corrode away to nothing or dent when you hit a bug at 60mph. Body shops will get on board with aluminum repair in rapid fashion after realizing this new trend in building materials. The helicopters I build fly in a maritime environment and get overhauled every 5 years with minimal corrosion.

 

Aluminum in its purest form is used as sacrificial metal on boats, boat motors and hot water heaters, pretty smart whoever came up with this.

 

When I had AC added to my home (built in 1906) I called on a Harley riding buddy of mine. He owned his own company and he came out and put in a great unit, forgot now which make, but he told he was going to do a commercial model with all copper fins. It was (his cost) another $300 bucks. He told me that most folks in the Tidewater area are sold Alum finned units and not a single one will last nor is it covered by any warranty. So I asked, well how long will the copper last. He pointed up to the edge of the roof and said as long as those copper gutters you have on this house will.

I can only imagine how fast sacrificial alum must be consumed. I owned 2 cars at the time that had metallic paint and in less than a year the cars looked old, paint was rough to the touch and had lost its shine. Great place, sure hated leaving it. Look and see whales, porpoise, sharks. My house set center of two National historic markers showing where the battle of the Monitor and the Merrimack took place.

 

I've heard of Zinc Anodes but not Aluminum... Interesting..

 

RV Hot water heater anodes are typically magnesium or aluminum...

 

You know I still don't know what to think about the picture.

In all the spy shots you can clearly see that the grill and headlights are the same as the 11-15's.But yet they put a magnet to one of the test trucks and it didn't stick and the one truck that burned to the ground looked exactly like a 11-15 SD.You can also see a so called 2016-17 SD that has the current grill and headlights BUT has the "new" interior????So current body with new interior?

So would Ford really make a current bodystyle SD out of aluminum for a test truck just to throw off the public????

See pics....

Car and Driver

Car and Driver

Car and Driver

 

I can see the confusion because they are called "zincs" sometimes. That's what we called them on the small boats in the USCG. I can't say for sure though that they may be ones made of zinc for specific applications.

 

I lived far a long time across from Navy Norfolk and there were sailors everywhere and I would hear them talk about this and IIRC they called them a "Sailor- Roy' dunno, was an Army guy myself.

 

I hate the look of the new Super Duty. It would be nice to see a change of the current body style, as they have had it the same for quite a while now, but that 2017 is absolutely hideous.

 

Yes they would.

They did it with the F150. One example of that is the truck they ran in the Baja. 2.7 EB with aluminum body, but it was the old design.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using IB AutoGroup

 

Every time I go to Norfolk it makes me glad I went Aviation instead of shipboard.

 

I'm glad you went aviation.... One less person to compete with for parking on *** Norfolk :-)

 

Supposedly, Ford had several "mules" that were all aluminum and the old body style 150's. They say they've been testing the concept for a good while before actually attempting to go into production.
Whether we like it or not, it's going to be our new "normal", at one time GM had said they're going to be making aluminum bodied trucks in 2016 or 18 (?) Not sure of the exact date. Only a matter of time before all trucks will be this way, hell, they have to to keep up with the upcoming EPA / CAFE regulations. All the fanboys that are making jokes about "beer can" bodies and turbo charged V6's will be eating alot of crow in the near future.. Ford, again, will be several years ahead! When the EB's first came out, I scoffed at them myself, with my old "no replacement for displacement" mentality, but I can't fault the engine, they had some issues early on, but I think they've gotten it down to a science. Same thing with aluminum, they'll be growing pains, but they'll get it streamlined. In another year or so, nobody will give it a second thought, at least Ford drivers, the other guys will just be starting with hurdles Ford has already crossed!

 

It seems like most forget that heavy duty trucks have had aluminum cabs for many years. Those things are highly corrosion resistant, but I'm sure much of that has to do with the coatings they use. The aluminum F150 seems to resist dents well:


Expen$ive to repair, but what would a steel bed look like after a hit like that?

 

Hate, hate, hate the styling of the 2017 Super Duty. It looks like they remade it in the image of its little brother, the F150. Front end looks like it had its nose punched in!


This is going to be one of the great design disasters. Perhaps to rival the 2004 BMW 5 Series fiasco. Look up some pictures of that POS.


That said, this does make me feel GREAT about my current F350!