1946 - 1948 ford Aluminum parts

[sawzall]

Ive owned several 1946 -48 fords over the last 20 years and am embarrassed that I don't know more about aluminum parts used on these cars..

currently I own the following in aluminum..

aluminum floor (trans cover)
aluminum cowl vent (lid only)
aluminum headlight buckets (maybe these are later?)
aluminum front inner air deflectors
aluminum rear splash apron
aluminum running boards
and..
strangest of all

I have a aluminum heater snorkel (mounts under hood) for the 1948 ford fresh air accessory heater.

so the question..

when did the use of aluminum phase in? or out?? were these aluminum parts used in one area and not another? were they testing new material?
or using up material they had?

and.. what other aluminum parts should I be searching for.. ;-)



note... at one point.. someone told me that the aluminum parts were intended for one model of car, I have however found that these aluminum parts seen to have been applied to many body styles..

can anyone shed light on this?

[Cecil/WV]

According to the V8 Club restoration book, the aluminum was mostly, if no all, on the '48 models

[NealinCA]

I have an aluminum transmission inspection cover and an aluminum crankcase breather/oil fill cap.

[waterboychuck]

I think my 46 has aluminum headlight buckets.

[Vic Piano]

My first car way a '48 Ford TuDor Sedan, it had an aluminum transmission/floor cover and aluminum running boards... My '47 Convertible has rubber inserts on the running boards and a steel floor cover... The '46 TuDor I had was the same as the '47. Not that this clears anything up. LOL

[Stenny]

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My '48 Sedan Coupe had all the aluminum pieces noted as well as an aluminum oil bath lid and upper air deflector. I never saw the fresh air heater intake tube made of anything but aluminum. I was told that with the scrapping of WW2 aircraft, aluminum became affordable and Ford was experimenting with using it in nonstructural components.

[Karl Wescott]

According to various legends told to me over the years, Ford was faced with several situations in 1946-1948. Extreme pent up demand for cars due to the ending of rationing and returning servicemen. Left over aluminum from cancelled B-24 contracts. Intermittent supply of stamping steel due secondary to war-civilian changeover and labor issues at steel mills. Solution = use up stocks of aluminum! The use tended to be random and as steel seemed to be preferred when available.

[mike cox]

Have 46-48 heater , that the outside box covering the inter box is aluminum. Mike

[Bruce Lancaster]

Just as a useless datum point, my early '48 (November '47, Edgewater plant) has none of those aluminum parts. It was bought new by my Father and has never been seriously damaged, so all body stuff is original.

[Cecil/WV]

Anyone have a suggestion for polishing aluminum running boards versus painting with a good aluminum paint and maybe clearcoat??

[sawzall]

Originally Posted by Stenny

My '48 Sedan Coupe had all the aluminum pieces noted as well as an aluminum oil bath lid and upper air deflector. I never saw the fresh air heater intake tube made of anything but aluminum. I was told that with the scrapping of WW2 aircraft, aluminum became affordable and Ford was experimenting with using it in nonstructural components.

upper air deflector!? as in front of the radiator above the hood latch??

[meric42]

Originally Posted by Cecil/WV

Anyone have a suggestion for polishing aluminum running boards versus painting with a good aluminum paint and maybe clearcoat??

Hi,

You can polish aluminium with any good metal polish like 'Autosol', clean thoroughly and spray Nyalic clear coat

http://www.nyalic.com/

Cheers,

meric42

[Stenny]

Originally Posted by sawzall

upper air deflector!? as in front of the radiator above the hood latch??

Yes, that is the part I'm referring to.

[henry's 48]

Stenny, do you still have that "air deflector" part?
I need one of those. It's the only piece I'm short.

Al

[sawzall]

Originally Posted by Stenny

My '48 Sedan Coupe had all the aluminum pieces noted as well as an aluminum oil bath lid and upper air deflector. I never saw the fresh air heater intake tube made of anything but aluminum. I was told that with the scrapping of WW2 aircraft, aluminum became affordable and Ford was experimenting with using it in nonstructural components.

I have two fresh air heaters tubes.. one is aluminum.. the other.. which is restored, and painted is steel..

I didnt do the restoration.. and I really didnt pay attention to it until I read your comment..

but as it turned out.. they made fresh air tubes in steel and alum as well!!!

[Stenny]

Originally Posted by henry's 48

Stenny, do you still have that "air deflector" part?
I need one of those. It's the only piece I'm short.

Al

Sorry, that went with the car when I sold it.

[47Merc]

My 47 Merc coupe has aluminium head light buckets, running boards and the big splash panel that fits from under the grille back to the radiator

[svm99]

I have an aluminum shift lever cap which threads on the tower of a floor shift trans.

[Cecil/WV]

Originally Posted by meric42

Hi,

You can polish aluminium with any good metal polish like 'Autosol', clean thoroughly and spray Nyalic clear coat

http://www.nyalic.com/

Cheers,

meric42

Thanks!