Aluminum hood?

[DHG1078]

As far as aluminum it can ding/dent/bend easier than steel, but it's not like you have to baby it. It's pretty strong and thick enough to fend off most things (gosh forbid you sit fully or stand on it), but it's not like it's noticeable at all. It will feel the same as steel (i.e. it's not like a beer can).

This is old school logic. Today's high tech aluminum alloys are quite strong and light. The new F-150 with an all aluminum body is MORE dent proof than the outgoing model, for example. It won't be as easy to bend either.

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[JoeySD]

This is old school logic. Today's high tech aluminum alloys are quite strong and light. The new F-150 with an all aluminum body is MORE dent proof than the outgoing model, for example. It won't be as easy to bend either.

Very correct indeed !!!

Ford says that a whopping 95 percent of the 2015 F-150’s body is made from “high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloys”. The use of aluminum accounts for 70 percent of the 700-pound weight reduction.

 

[Whiskey11]

Very correct indeed !!!

Ford says that a whopping 95 percent of the 2015 F-150’s body is made from “high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloys”. The use of aluminum accounts for 70 percent of the 700-pound weight reduction.

Pfffft.... the terms "Military Grade" and "Aircraft Grade" with referring to aluminum alloys is a joke. 6061-T6 is an "Aircraft Grade" Aluminum... it's used in the skins of the aircraft... I'm sure 6061-T6 is also used by the Military. 6061 in some temper form can be bought at your local hardware store in various bars and L-Brackets for dirt cheap and isn't that impressive.

7075 has different (and better, IMO) properties and is used in the production of the M16 rifle family (forged upper and lower receivers made exclusively of it) and is still very common and inexpensive even if it's more expensive than 6061.

The problem with aluminum is that it has a fatigue life. This is why aircraft have retirement based on the number of compression/decompression cycles of the aircraft (IE: Every time it gets to altitude and returns is a cycle). Aluminum in areas that see constant loading and unloading are going to need more aluminum than the part needs for structural purposes to stiffen the part to better handle these stresses for periods of time that exceed the useful life of the part.

 

[x_man586]

+1 on aluminum being strong enough. I work in a body shop and deal with aluminum all of the time. It is more difficult to straighten a dent in aluminum and our stud guns can't weld to it. But for the most part the only difference is in the weight and the $$$. We are going to see a big increase in aluminum parts as time goes on.

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