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THE present shortage of sheet steel has made the substitution of aluminum worth while for some automotive parts, the authors report, despite the higher cost of aluminum per pound. Two aluminum alloys are suggested for automotive applications. Alcoa No. 2 automotive sheet is said to furnish a good combination of properties from the standpoint of strength, resistance to corrosion, workability, and price. Alcoa No. 3 is said to be superior to No. 2 in workability and to have excellent resistance to corrosion, although its strength is somewhat lower than that of No. 2.

THE potential economies that are possible in electric-resistance-welding structural parts made from the aluminum alloys have been realized to a limited extent. Considerable development work already has established the fundamental equipment requisites for making welds, and the characteristics of the various alloys from the standpoint of strength and corrosion resistance of the welds. Some of the applications from which satisfactory service is being obtained with spotwelded and seamwelded parts include airplane and bus gasoline and water tanks, bridge flooring, cooking utensils, radio-equipment racks - in fact, the process is adaptable to the assembly of any parts with a section thickness of less than 3/16 in. which, in past practice, have been riveted. Proper equipment is essential to obtain sound, consistent welds in the shop.