1) Will the ADS-ALCA work directly with the door locks in my F150? Are relays needed because of the door lock type (not 5 pin) with the bypass? On the idatalink website, it is not showing an compatibility with the vehicle.
No, the ADS AL-CA will not handle the F150's locks. The ADS AL-CA will only perform the PATS transponder bypass for that vehicle.
2) I'm comfortable with the wiring and soldering of points, but want to make sure this is an install I can tackle with the right modules. I've done a remote start in the past (2003) but it's been a long time, and a lot has changed. Am I getting in over my head? I'm more afraid that there will be multiple relays, multiple resistors, and multiple diodes needed for this.
This is a pretty straight-forward install. The alarm portion will be your main issue. Ford uses (-) N.C. door trigger logic.
3) Would anyone recommend a different set up? I chose Viper because I have had great luck with them in the past, and I chose the iDatalink module because I can flash myself. Would it make more sense to purchase the DBall3, install, then have a local shop flash?
The Viper is a solid unit but do you want / need the alarm portion, too? A Viper 4806V would do everything except the alarm functions with a lower price tag. The ADS AL-CA is slightly overkill being as it only does the PATS bypass function. You will need to flash it with the DBI-TB-FM2 firmware to allow D2D communications with your Viper R/S. Using a DB3 is a possibility but you definitly would need a friendly shop to flash it for you. With iDatalink Flash access you could do the KLON process if you had only one working key.
4) After hours and hours of research, I haven't found this install online as a "walkthrough". Are there any discussions related to this vehicle/alarm/rs combo
While it is not the exact same R/S and bypass module, this Pictorial ( https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=141945 ) will provide all of the needed wires, colors, locations to help with your install. No alarm wiring for the door triggers is shown in the Pictorial.
Here is the door trigger info :
Dome Light GRAY/VIOLET (+) SJB CONN A PIN #9
Driver's Front Door Pin GREEN\VIOLET (-N.C.) SJB GRAY 26 PIN CONN, PIN 14
Pass Front Door Pin WHITE (-N.C.) SJB GRAY 26 PIN CONN, PIN 2
Driver's Rear Door Pin GREEN (-N.C.) SJB GRAY 26 PIN CONN, PIN 3
Pass Rear Door Pin YELLOW (-N.C.) SJB GRAY 26 PIN CONN, PIN 15
Soldering is fun!