Help w/dealer options: Permaplate, clear bra

[jaz13]

And how do you know they're not aluminum ? Unless this can be verified I'm very doubtful.

If you have a truck, go feel them and tap on them. The hood and front fenders are obviously different material than the rear fenders. If you pop the hood, you can also see where the fiberglass caps are bonded to the aluminium structure. Gen1 was the same way. It might be too difficult to stamp the aggressive styling and shape out of aluminium.

 

[DANACO]

If you have a truck, go feel them and tap on them. The hood and front fenders are obviously different material than the rear fenders. If you pop the hood, you can also see where the fiberglass caps are bonded to the aluminium structure. Gen1 was the same way. It might be too difficult to stamp the aggressive styling and shape out of aluminium.

Yeah, I don't have my rig yet but after some research it was mentioned several times including a quote from Car&Driver that those front panels are indeed composite. Funny, Ford never mentioned they were stamping F-150 hoods out of aluminum for several years until they announced they were going to change over to aluminum in 15'. They basically said, 'what's the big deal, we've been stamping hoods in aluminum for years' !

So now. It's revealed, Saturn technology for the new Raptor ! Not really, those were injection molded panels I believe and im guessing the Raptors are SMC which was first used for the scoops on the hoods of '69 Firebirds.

---------- Post added at 07:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:19 PM ----------

If you have a truck, go feel them and tap on them. The hood and front fenders are obviously different material than the rear fenders. If you pop the hood, you can also see where the fiberglass caps are bonded to the aluminium structure. Gen1 was the same way. It might be too difficult to stamp the aggressive styling and shape out of aluminium.

In addition, its odd to me they would go composite on the hood given its nearly identical to the regular 150's and I doubt there's much weight savings, composites with glass in them are not all that light. I'm curious as to the official reason for the application.

 

[jawman]

Does it make sense to spend $1350 to protect the paint? Curious if anyone knows what it would cost to have the hood and mirrors repainted? I suspect that ty the time the hood needs to be repainted, the plastic protectant would be pitted and looking bad enough to need to be replaced too. Our hood and fenders are not made of metal, so rust isn't a problem.

It does make sense to me and consider the front bumpers are painted steel so they do chip and rust and besides I just hate rock chips period, one is too many. I also try to preserve the factory paint whenever possible. I have never had to have the wrap replaced on the 7 vehicles I have had done with the process.