Ford will soon introduce its next generation of Ford F-150, which will make extensive use of aluminum in bodypanels, etc. Weight savings would be in the range of several hundred lbs., with a resultant significant fuel economy gain. This should tie in nicely Ford's smaller displacement turboed Ecoboost engines now available in the current F-150.

Pickup owners are not typically a technically adventurous bunch, with tough steel-bodied, cast-iron V8-engined models as their conveyance of preference. Do you foresee any backlash from prospective pickup truck buyers faced with the prospect of an aluminum-bodied turbo V6 powered replacement for their trusty 5.4 V8-engined F-150? Will loyal Ford owners flee to Rams and Silverados in droves?

I question how much of the F150's market is made up of traditional pickup owners, and there is a crowd in there who will ONLY buy a Chevy/Ford/Dodge that will probably buy Ford no matter what happens.

Wonder what the panZZer would say...

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I'd drive it. I've seen some designs supposidly of the truck, it looks nice and hopefully it'd perform well, I look forward to seeing them on the road,

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

The 5.4 wasn't the best of engines - had problems with something in the valvetrain that causes a knocking sound. IIRC, Ford replaced this engine with the Coyote 5.0 in '12 or '13.

As far as the changes to the build of the truck, I doubt the use of aluminum or change in weight will really make more people buy an F150, but if the economy gets better, especially with the Ecoboost engine, I do see more buyers flocking to the F150.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

It assumes that new truck buyers are all traditionalist, which I would be surprised if true. Otherwise, they would all look, drive and perform like they did in the 1950's.

I'm wondering if the perceived fragility of aluminum as compared to steel will be of a concern to prospective buyers.

I'd perfer a cast iron engine for a truck,something that could get warm towing that would not warp.As far as body,its about time.However want my steel frame.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Doubtful. Think average-joe-contractor.

Most of the people I talk to are more scared of powertrain changes than structural changes...

"Ford switched to a 100% boxed frame" - really, what's that mean?
"GMC uses a hydroformed frame" - really, what's that mean?


People don't know/don't care about thus kind of stuff. They are more aware of "8 speed automatic with a new diesel in the Ram?!?!" or "Bigger engine in the Silverado, won't that kill mileage?"....

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

I wonder what percentage of the pickups are fleet sales, and that's where the fuel economy numbers, along with payload and MTBF gets attention.

I'd be worried about the bed getting trashed, aluminum is soft.

Why does Ford need aluminum what GM can do with steel?

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Cast iron is a dinosaur, especially in modern cars/trucks.

The Duramax is an iron block and has aluminum heads. People were scared of them warping over time, but they have withstood the test of time!

IIRC, the VM motori diesel in the Ram 1500 is going to use aluminum heads as well.

Hell, Ford is using a compressed graphite-iron for the block in the 6.7 with aluminum heads and in stock form, and it performs better than the old 7.3/6.0 cast iron monsters they once used.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

The triton 5.4 had "cam phaser failure". I bought one new in 04, and it started knocking at about 100k. Slight loss of power and fuel economy and the truck sounds like a diesel.

The stuck spark plugs where the pits with that truck. Luckily for me only one got stuck during my plug change.

The truck is still on the road to this day...... Dieseling away.

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Eugene

10 E63 AMG
93 300te 4matic
07 BMW X3
14 Ford F-150 Fx2

Sounds like a selling point for some people .

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I doubt people will care, as long as price doesn't increase dramatically.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Truckies will relate the aluminum to what is on big rigs and relate to increased payload resulting from less weight in the truck.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.