Posted on 07/27/2012 2:33:00 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
Edited on 07/27/2012 2:39:50 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
ALLEN PARK, Mich.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
You also have the advantage of not rusting.
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Aluminum rusts , it’s just white rust instead of red..
Stainless steel tends to work harden as it moves and crack when you try to use it on car bodies.
There was a company that built aftermarket Jeep CJ bodies out of stainless back in the ‘70’s and they always cracked around the frame /body attachment bolt holes. They were beautiful bit every one I ever saw cracked given some use.
We have an aluminum body Pierce Manufacturing fire engine going on 23 years. It has held up just fine. A few small bubbles have developed under some of the reflective striping. Other then that no problems .
“I’m sure a Ford pickup at Audi pricing will be a huge hit.”
Meanwhile the American cars go around and around the Nascar tracks, little or no innovation technology-wise.
Did you know Audi has won 24 hours of LeMans 11 of the last 13 years; first with gasoline, next diesel (first ever), and this year hybrid (first ever).
VW Group builds cars of all price ranges. Higher price range vehicles and racing prepare for future innovations in all lines.
Whoops. The (former big) three all but gave up the luxury market (except Cadillac).
Nascar isn’t technology.
It’s entertainment.
(Very profitable entertainment)
Mild steel is good stuff. It’s readily welded and performs consistently in crashes.
God gave us mild steel and cast iron to make vehicles for the masses.
The rear spar in the wing that the landing gear is attached to is aluminum.
Aircraft aluminum is very tough, but expensive.
But, I agree with a previous poster in that the weight loss will be a hamper to traction.
Maybe they can provide in the design attach points under the frame to add weight after you buy the truck.
Probably won't fly with the Fed's.
Just cruise down to the local EBT/TANF/Social Sec office and pick up a few fat girls. Problem solved. And on sunny days they can be offloaded to improve fuel economy.
I have vaporized a few pistons in my lifetime. 2 strokes and exoctic fuel mixes will do amazing things when things go wrong.
LLS
Well they run better and better as you lean them out, right up to the point where the piston crown becomes part of the combustion process.
With our modern computer controls technology we could achieve some incredible mpgs if we didn’t have to run at 14.7:1 to make the damn converter work.
Wonder how the lighter body would have changed the outcome.
“a few fat girls”
Or, or....let’s put the lead back into the fuel...huh, huh!?
Sky King was the best! Penny was pretty hot too!
LLS
Loved that show....:
Stay safe !
LLS
You too.
LLS
You mean sky king was really the airplane. I thought he was the pilot.
That’s plenty fast on pavement, and downright terrifying on water.
As someone who works in the aluminum idustry, it has a lot of merit and some drawbacks. Aluminum is a lot tougher than most realize. Accura made an all aluminum car for years. It was expensive and not a big seller, don’t know how it fared in wrecks and such. The one big drawback to aluminum skin is that it doesn’t stretch like steel and tends to break rather than bend. A lot would depend on the alloy. There are steering and suspension components already in suv’s and such from cast aluminum that have done quite well and most owners never know it (Dodge Durango, Chevy Trailblazer to name two). It’s between plastic and aluminum for cutting down weight on vehicles, but it’s going to happen
Clearly, aircraft generally consist of lots of Aluminum. And, there is good reason that airports never, to my knowledge, use salt on winter runways. Indeed, I will never forget renting a ratty cessna many years ago in Honolulu. When I asked the instructor what the deal was, and how old my rental was, I was surprised when told only 2 years old. That salt air is deadly to Aluminum!
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