Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Kevin D Helton

Edward William Bach

Adam J Rompage

Masahiro Ishikawa

Steven U Behm

Benjamin J Meaige

A vehicle body assembly includes a frame having a forward frame part defining a passenger cabin and a rear frame part defining a load carrying bed. A separate rear fender is removably fastened to the rear frame part, wherein a gap is provided between the forward frame part and the rear fender. A separate rear fender fairing is mounted to an inside surface of the rear fender. The rear fender fairing includes a seal located in the gap and sealingly engaging both the forward frame part and the rear fender.

Vehicle body assembly

A vehicle assembly method includes providing an aluminum roof component including a peripheral flange structure that defines a roof adhesive bonding zone; providing a steel vehicle body component including a body adhesive bonding zone; removably fastening the roof component to the vehicle body component with the peripheral flange structure spaced from the vehicle body component; electrocoating the roof component secured to the vehicle body component including the roof adhesive bonding zone and the body adhesive bonding zone; painting the roof component secured to the vehicle body component; removing the painted roof component from the painted vehicle body component; applying an adhesive that is curable at room temperature to at least one of the roof adhesive bonding zone and the body adhesive bonding zone; securely fastening the painted roof component to the painted vehicle body component with the adhesive spanning the adhesive bonding zones; and curing the adhesive.

Method and system for joining aluminum roof component to steel vehicle body component

A vehicle assembly includes a steel vehicle body with a vehicle body component defined by a pair of body members. The vehicle body component defines a body adhesive bonding zone. Front and rear roof rails span laterally between the body members. An aluminum vehicle roof component includes a roof panel having a peripheral flange structure which defines a roof adhesive bonding zone corresponding to the body adhesive bonding zone. Forward and rear support brackets extend laterally across the roof panel, a portion of each support bracket is located on the flange structure inwardly of the roof adhesive bonding zone. The support brackets are configured to provide a vertical spacing between the flange structure and the vehicle body. The vehicle roof component is bonded to the vehicle body via an adhesive applied to the body and roof adhesive bonding zones.

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Marysville, OH, United States of America

Kevin D Helton