| Author |
Message |
    
Jeff E (Jeffe)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 09:36 am: | 
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WHAT IS THE PRIMARY REASON LR USES ALUMINUM BODY PANELS ON THE D2? (I ASSUME THE SAME FOR THE D1).
I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THE PANELS ARE STEEL?
IS IT JUST FOR WEIGHT SAVINGS (I FIND THAT TO HARD TO BELIEVE) OR IS THERE SOME OTHER REASON?
I'M THINKING ALUMINUM WOULD BE BETTER SUITED FOR THE TOUGH OFFROAD ENVIRONMENT, I.E. DOES NOT RUST, PROVIDES BETTER FLEXIBILITY THAN STEEL AS THE TRUCK BODY CONTORTS?
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS.
JEFF |
Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 09:41 am: |
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1. Rust.
2. Weight.
3. So your magnetic CB antenna has to go on the roof. |
Rob Davison (Pokerob)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 09:41 am: |
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innitially land rover used post WW2 surplus aluminum panels that were used in the manufaturing or aircraft to build the first land rovers.
the anti rust properties and weight savings seemed locigal and they stuck with it.
rd |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 09:46 am: |
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The reason the surplus aluminum was used in the first place was cost: in the post-WWII English economy, steel was going for a premium as an export over the cost of aluminum.
Auto makers were allowed a limited amount of steel for use; since the Rover car company wasn't a big exporter, they had a smaller allotment than other manufacturers that did export more. They really couldn't resume normal car production, and the Land-Rover was born as a stop-gap, something for them to build and export until they could resume normal auto production. Lucky for us, it proved more successful than cars... 
-L |
James F. Thompson Jaime (Blueboy)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 09:46 am: |
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"The first Land Rover was conceived as a temporary stop-gap in the aftermath of World War II, a product of the severe steel shortage that marked post-war Britain. Aimed primarily at the farming market, the initial brief was to produce a vehicle that was affordable and sturdy yet lightweight and low maintenance, with the option of 4-wheel drive. Power take-off units were integral to the first prototypes to build in versatility, opening the way to all manner of tasks on the farm for this nimble little short wheel based motor."
As Rob points out, there was also a surplus of aluminum.
Jaime |
Pete
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 09:47 am: |
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Wow, a LR would weight a lot if it were all steel!! The engines would really suck gas then. |
Greg Davis (Gregdavis)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 11:56 am: |
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At least the soccer moms can't put those damned magnetic soccer balls on them! |
Dave_Lucas (Dave_Lucas)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 01:31 pm: |
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I Like the panel's on the freelander, they seem to be very similar to the saturn plastic panels.
Sure would eliminate some of the door dings and a few dents that I have. |
James F. Thompson Jaime (Blueboy)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 01:40 pm: |
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think those are only the front fenders; rest is steel. not positive though.
Jaime |
Rob Soetewey (Robbert)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 02:07 pm: |
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I'm not so sure about the rust thing with aluminum.
Where alu touches steel, the alu will be eaten away by an electrical current that is induced by acid/salt water. And my LR suffers from it…
Rob |
Alyssa Brown (Alyssa)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 04:44 pm: |
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Yeah, the freelander front fenders & headlights are composite & bounce back. Doors on a DII are dual-sided galvanized steel. Rear door is Aluminum, as are the fenders. I believe the roof is steel and the hood is aluminum. I may be wrong, but I don't feel like walking outside with a magnet. :-) |
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