ALUMINUM REVOLUTION

摘要

Aluminum is some peculiar stuff. On one hand, it's the most abundant metal on the earth's surface, and the third most abundant element on the planet. When cast into engine blocks or cylinder heads, however, it suddenly becomes a very exotic material that commands a premium price. This may seem out of whack, but despite its abundance, extracting aluminum from ore is an extremely labor intensive and costly process. Not surprisingly, with the exception of a few common engine and driveline components, aluminum is used very sparingly at the OE level and just about never in the aftermarket. That's why the hot rodding world gasped in shock last summer when Detroit Speed & Engineering pulled the wraps off its all-new aluminum front suspension system for '64-70 Ford Mustangs. With all the buzz this hot new setup has generated in recent months, the big question is whether or not the new Aluma-Frame lives up to the hype.