BajaNomad

Hitting the new Aluminium F150 with a Sledge Hammer

TMW - 1-27-2015 at 08:43 AM

http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/watch-what-happens-when-you-sl...

Hook - 1-27-2015 at 08:54 AM

Part 2 is also up, covering the repairs by the dealer. As expected, aluminum is more expensive to repair than steel.

But I was surprised at how resilient the aluminum was to the sledge.

http://youtu.be/Um7UpIA4X0s?list=PLsSQoIGhBLpTEbV4Y5GFNbmvvh...

[Edited on 1-27-2015 by Hook]

Whale-ista - 1-27-2015 at 09:03 AM

I drive an older baby truck (Mazda B4000) and often consider upgrading to a newer grownup truck, so this series of videos caught my attention.

Spoiler alert: The fancy new taillights with blind spot warning cost $897 to replace. Each.

A standard taillight? $105.

Ouch... (I'm still watching the video for the body repair cost.)

durrelllrobert - 1-28-2015 at 09:46 AM

sledge hammer maybe but not barbed wire. years ago i was driving a friends J@ Allard, a British sports car with an aluminum body. I spun out and went through a barbed wire fence that opened it up like a can of sardines.

willardguy - 1-28-2015 at 10:02 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Whale-ista  
I drive an older baby truck (Mazda B4000) and often consider upgrading to a newer grownup truck, so this series of videos caught my attention.

Spoiler alert: The fancy new taillights with blind spot warning cost $897 to replace. Each.

A standard taillight? $105.

Ouch... (I'm still watching the video for the body repair cost.)


think those new taillights will be all the rage among thief's now????

Genecag - 1-28-2015 at 12:34 PM

Impressed that the body took that hit like a champ!!

Wonder what the cost would be in a Mexican shop...

Sweetwater - 1-28-2015 at 12:46 PM

The issue with aluminum vs steel is on how each handles directional stress. Any fabricator or design engineer can tell you that steel is multidirectional and therefore amenable to repair and welding. Aluminum....not so much.....

msteve1014 - 1-28-2015 at 12:57 PM

GOOD body shops have been repairing aluminum panels for 50 years. Cheap shops in TJ, not so much.

willardguy - 1-28-2015 at 01:51 PM

Quote: Originally posted by msteve1014  
GOOD body shops have been repairing aluminum panels for 50 years. Cheap shops in TJ, not so much.


they didn't get many cobra's in to practice on? :lol:

chuckie - 1-28-2015 at 02:11 PM

I owned an XKCM jaguar, purchased as a total loss from British Motor Car in Palo Alto, when I was in school there. Bill Burnett was able to make it driveable....as a ONE door by fabbing new ugly panels out of steel. Kinda interesting,entering from the passenger side to drive it. The damage was not that extensive to the eye, but NO ONE would take it on...hence it was totaled...LUMINUM...Like the idea, not the cost...

msteve1014 - 1-28-2015 at 03:12 PM

I have a MBZ 280 sl. Aluminum doors, hood, and trunk lid. Six months after restoring it the driver side door was caved in. A GOOD body shop made it like new, no filler. It can be done. It takes skill.