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svt explorer tremor concept

jt thomas

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scottsboro al
Year, Model & Trim Level
2000 explorer limited svt
i have been working on my own svt explorer the way i thought they would make it. after months of looking around i found this just now.....
SVT Tremor Concept
Introduced: NAIAS 1998

Press
Ford Tremor concept brings exciting new performance to sport utility vehicles
The Ford Tremor breaks new ground in the sport utility market. With its high-performance 4.6-liter DOHC five-valve engine, independent rear suspension, all-wheel drive and aggressive looks, this concept sport utility vehicle (SUV) is at home on the street or ready for off-road adventure.

"The Tremor is a further evolution of America's best-selling sport utility vehicle, the Ford Explorer," said Tom Scott, director of the Advanced Design Studio. "While it maintains the Explorer's well-known attributes of performance, ruggedness and a well-packaged interior, this concept vehicle creates a new niche of fun-to-drive vehicle."

Unique High-Performance V-8
At the heart of the Ford Tremor is a powerful, all-aluminum 4.6-liter five-valve DOHC high-performance engine capable of delivering an estimated 380 horsepower and 340 foot-pounds of torque at 5,500 rpm. The engine was built by Ford's Advanced Powertrain group.

Though the performance characteristics have not been fully evaluated, computer-aided engineering simulations suggest the engine will power the SUV to a top speed of nearly 140 mph, an under-seven-second 0 - 60 mph time and a quarter-mile time under 15 seconds.

The cylinder heads were designed by Yamaha and feature five valves per cylinder -- three intake and two exhaust -- that open and close in harmony through variable camshaft timing on intake. Variable camshaft timing provides 12 degrees of cam rotation overlap, increasing midrange power and reducing emissions without sacrificing smoothness at idle and low speeds. The engine compression ratio is 10.5:1.

The transmission is a modified Ford 4R70W four-speed automatic with a unique calibration. A Lincoln Mark VIII 11.25-inch torque converter has been adapted with revisions to the impeller and turbine to handle the high engine revs. The all-wheel-drive transfer case comes from a 5.0-liter Explorer and has a heavy duty input shaft. A custom driveshaft connects the transmission to the rear axle. Both front and rear axles run 4.10 gearsets.

Fully Independent Rear Suspension
The Tremor's chassis and suspension are engineered to provide optimized handling characteristics, without compromising the refined ride quality associated with the Explorer.

The fully independent rear suspension (IRS) has been adapted from the latest version of the Ford Thunderbird. The 9-inch Thunderbird IRS was chosen because of its excellent durability and reliability, making it an ideal candidate for the Tremor's street and off-road performance needs.

The rear suspension system was designed in cooperation with Multimatic Inc. of Ontario, Canada, and includes upper lateral links, lower H-arms, toe-in compensating links, coil springs and two-way adjustable gas shock absorbers. A rear stabilizer bar minimizes roll, and two box-sections house the IRS subframe rails that reduce torsional bending.

Even with the significant changes to the suspension to improve its dynamics on the road, Tremor's off-road handling and ground clearance have not been compromised.

Aggressive Design
Ford's Advanced Design Studio is responsible for Tremor's design.

"We wanted to combine a rugged exterior appearance with a high-quality interior that gives the Tremor a performance look but also a sophisticated quality feel," said Tom Scott, director of the Advanced Design Studio.

The front end features a new hood and fenders made from lightweight composite materials. A large grille opening keeps the 4.6-liter V-8 cool even under the most demanding driving conditions. Four large round high-performance headlamps, plus two round fog lamps in the front bumper, emphasize its sporty, purposeful character.

The wheel arches, with crisply defined edges, have been expanded to accommodate the 19-inch wheel and tire combination. Twin exhausts exit from beneath each side valance, signaling the vehicle's performance capability.

Tremor's rich metallic red paint is enhanced by the addition of nickel chrome protection panels on the lower body. The rear end has been extended slightly and the backlight sloped to give the vehicle a sportier profile. The license plate mount has been moved from the bumper to the tailgate and combined with a new integrated tailgate-opening handle. An innovative Jac Products Inc. roof rack and a rear roof spoiler help to improve stability.

The large, five-spoke aluminum wheels have been positioned at the far edges of the chassis, helping to give the Tremor its dramatic stance. The wheels measure 19 x 8.5 inches, and feature 245/60 R19 Goodyear performance tires specially made for the vehicle. The wheel and tire combination ensures maximum traction whether on- or off-road. Stopping power is provided by Mustang Cobra ABS system 13-inch vented discs on the front and 10.1-inch vented discs at the rear.

Purposeful Interior
The Explorer is well known for its interior packaging, and the Tremor concept follows this tradition but with a more performance-oriented theme. Four custom leather-covered Lear bucket seats hold the driver and three passengers firmly yet comfortably in position during even the roughest off-road driving. Grab handles are located near each seat for when the going really gets tough.

A full-length center console extends from the instrument panel to the rear bucket seats and houses the floor-mounted shifter, with storage space for a telephone. A new Garmin global positioning system is integrated into the instrument panel but is easily removed to be used outside the vehicle. Rear passengers have their own climate controls and an armrest, first seen in the Ford Taurus, that can be folded down to provide additional storage space.

For added convenience, the rear seats fold flat for cargo-carrying capacity. The cargo area floor is covered in a durable, non-slip rubber matting for maximum utility and durability.

While Tremor is only a concept at this stage, it has been engineered as a fully driveable prototype. The Ford Tremor performance SUV will be shown at auto shows throughout the year.


Photos
The Tremor is an SVT concept vehicle, based on an Explorer with a highly modified body shell. Suspension is standard SLA up front, and a modified T-Bird unit in the back. Cobra PBR calipers and rotors are used up front.
The engine is basically a 4.6 Mark-VIII engine, modified with Yamaha 5-valve heads featuring variable intake cam timing. Horsepower is 380.
Ford Automotive Operations President Jac Nasser unveils the Ford Tremor Concept Vehicle during the truck's world debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit Tuesday, Jan. 7, 1997. Nasser roared Tremor's powerful, all-aluminum 4.6-litre, five-valve high-performance engine when he started the truck for journalists. Tremor is a further evolution of America's best-selling sport utility vehicle, the Ford Explorer.

if the photos didnt show up the sight and it is a great lookig ex. you have to go look.
www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-ford/...tremor/default.htm
 



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this appears to be 96-01 range
 






heres some more

From the February, 1997 issue of Motor Trend

By Jack Keebler

| Photos Karl Rossman






|






Not since the voodoo-dancin', fire-breathin' GMC Typhoon has an automaker created a compact sport/utility vehicle with the performance of the Ford Tremor concept truck.


But unlike that earlier Corvette gobbler, this 140-mph sport/ute has also received the sophisticated chassis and brake engineering necessary to use all of its wild horses to their ultimate smooth-riding, quick-passing, and nimble-handling potential.


Like most concept vehicles, the Tremor, based on the Ford Explorer, was created primarily to cause a stir on the auto-show circuit. (It will debut at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit.) But this sensational concept truck is no fragile show-stand princess.


One of the Tremor's most intriguing and unusual aspects is the amount of production engineering investigation that occurred to support possibly building the vehicle for a limited number of retail customers. For example, details such as the wheelbase and track dimensions were all kept carefully within the limits imposed by assembly-line and tooling constraints. And, even more unusual for a concept car, many ancillary systems such as its lighting, navigation system, and air-conditioning unit, are fully functional. After all, the Tremor had to be capable of surviving comprehensive executive reviews and automotive magazine dynamic testing at a racetrack.


We know this because Ford brought us into its labs and workshops months ahead of the auto show for a world exclusive look at the hot-and-spicy Tremor.


What we found is a special organization dedicated to identifying and developing niche and high-volume breakthrough vehicles for existing or emerging new markets. If it's eventually produced, the Tremor would unquestionably be the most sophisticated and powerful all-wheel-drive sport/utility in the North American market.


We can thank David Velliky, director of the New Concepts Organization of the Ford Product Strategy Office, for this mouth-watering production possibility, as he's overseeing the vehicle to completion. Last year, Velliky's engineering team brought the dream-inspiring V-12-powered, 200-mph Indigo two-seater to the show circuit. For this year, Velliky's intention was to combine the traditional off-road capability, safety, and security of a sport/utility with the power and handling of a performance specialty car like the Mustang Cobra. Enter the cross-bred Tremor.


"We're trying to create a very sophisticated vehicle," explained Velliky. "If a backyard mechanic could copy it, it's the wrong kind of vehicle."


Ultimately, Velliky says, the Tremor may or may not reach showrooms with its 40-valve 4.6-liter DOHC V-8, but he assured MT that its current power level will be maintained. And he insists that alternative powertrain schemes lurk in the fertile minds at the Blue Oval to ensure six-second blasts to 60 mph.


40-valve DOHC V-8
The Tremor is no lightweight. During the earliest planning stages, Ford engineers recognized they would be powering a vehicle expected to weigh at least 4500 pounds. So, to ensure road-blistering launches, Ford's powertrain division conjured up a fiercer Modular 4.6-liter engine with 380 stout horses at 6400 rpm and 350 thumpin' pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm.


And while General Motors tries to convince the world that two valves per cylinder are enough for its new 345-horsepower LS1 Corvette engine, Ford forges ahead-with the help of engineering partner Yamaha-with 40 valves in its most potent Modular V-8; that's three intake and two exhaust valves per cylinder. This unconventional avenue to power gains generally is limited to ultrahigh-performance motorcycles and exotic autos.


Jim Clarke, chief engineer of Ford's advanced powertrain engineering department, claims that he has "a lot of equity" in both pushrod and overhead-camshaft engines, having been the engineering manager on Ford's 5.0-liter for seven years. But he vows that, ultimately, Ford's overhead-camshaft V-8 offers the potential for a smoother idle, better fuel economy, lower noise and vibration, and much more horsepower than pushrod V-8s.


"We could have supercharged this engine for even higher power levels and really gone for the gold," said Clarke, smiling. "But we really wanted to win without adding any tricks. If we supercharged, you'd probably be looking at maybe another 20 to 30 percent above the [380-horsepower] naturally aspirated engine. But in the end, we didn't want a one-off that took six Hail Marys to produce."


Clarke emphasizes that turbos or superchargers mean dealing with awesomely high underhood temperatures, intake charge intercoolers packaged into the tight engine bay, ugly hood bulges, and long-term durability problems. But should Ford decide to pull additional power out of the 4.6, Clarke stands behind the strengths of the engine's bottom end, which he claims will cope with up to 100 horsepower per liter.


For high-volume air intake, Ford specified a low-restriction air cleaner and a throttle body with twin 70-millimeter intake throats. Following the throttle body is a special hand-fabricated aluminum intake manifold, working in concert with variable-intake camshaft timing. The timing tweak is achieved with an electromechanical system that varies the cam timing by about 12 degrees, allowing low overlap for a silky-smooth idle or lots of overlap above 3500 revs for max power.


Clarke boasts that Ford's triumph has been lowering the five-valve engine's power peak to between 6000 and 6500 rpm, while other carmakers must spool their five-valve engines up to about 7500 rpm to obtain maximum output.


Of course, if an engine swallows additional cubic feet of air, additional fuel must also be mixed. For this, Ford's concept-development people chose dual-spray injectors with a much higher flow rate than stock. Then, to put the squeeze on this more potent intake charge, the engineers pumped the compression ratio up to 10.50:1 from 9.85:1. The spent gas is discharged through two exhaust valves and dumped into fabricated steel headers coated with ceramic, rather than with a heavy, restrictive cast-iron manifold.


In keeping with the sophisticated character of this sporty 4x4, shifts are handled by a four-speed Ford 4R70W automatic transmission equipped with the beefier torque converter of the Lincoln Mark VIII. The power flows smoothly from the transmission to all four wheels through a pavement-grabbing viscous-type all-wheel-drive system.


Independent Thinking
Turning a standard, live-axle Explorer into an independently sprung Tremor was no backyard project.


To reengineer the full-frame Explorer's unibody to accept the Thunderbird's smooth and quiet corner-bending rear suspension, Ford turned to one of its large suppliers, Multimatic, Inc., of Markham, Ontario, and a small division of that company, called MTC. Multimatic currently supplies Ford Motor Company with everything from complicated instrument panels to simple door hinges.


Before the T-bird axle could be grafted into place, major surgery was performed on the Explorer's frame. First, the two riveted main frame rails were removed. A custom-built frame extension was then installed in their place to properly pick up the Thunderbird's suspension subframe mounts.


The second major modification to the frame rails was boxing (closing the open side of) the C-channel sections that run under the passenger-compartment floor. While plenty sturdy enough for wrenching off-road requirements, it was feared the C-channel steel might get twisted out of shape under the supersavage torque loads pumped out by the more-potent V-8.


The T-bird's rear suspension features coil springs. The team briefly considered the Mark VIII's very similar system, which uses air springs that could have provided adjustable load leveling, but it was ruled out because of the time required to retune this package for the truck. However, one trick item borrowed from the Mark's premium rear suspension was its aluminum differential housing. This rugged piece provided a large weight savings over the T-bird's cast-iron unit. The alloy casing was then stuffed with short 4.10:1 gears to provide quick take-off capability.


As anyone who has scratch-built a fast vehicle without equal attention to the binders will attest, the first test drive will reveal the wisdom of more-powerful stopping hardware-or else fear becomes your copilot. Great acceleration without equal brake muscle is a no-man's land of close calls and forever running on the ragged edge. To complement the Tremor's new-found muscle, Ford bolted up enormous 13-inch vented front rotors and twin-piston calipers from the Mustang Cobra R, while the rear axle sports the T-bird's strong vented rotors.


Communicating all of the Tremor's turning, accelerating, and quick-stopping orders to the street are big, high-grip contact patches provided by 245/45ZR19 BFGoodrich Comp TA tires-yes, exotic 19-inch rubber on an SUV! (Normally, the Explorer runs on 235/75R15 rubber.) The icing on all this rolling hardware is an eye-catching five-spoke wheel designed to show off the big brakes and accent the fat meats.


Dual-Personality Design
Although the Tremor is a very high-performance vehicle, it also had to look Ford truck tough. The red paint and nickel-tinted exterior brightwork go a long way in conveying the vehicle's sporting image, while carefully carving the styling line between beefy-truck macho and stripped-for-action sportiness.


Ford called on long-time supplier Masco Tech for styling execution, but the design conception itself was created by an internal Ford team headed by Mark Adams, advanced design studio's chief designer.


"We wanted to be true to the Explorer brand," explained Adams. "This is not an oddity. This is not an outlandish truck. We've maximized the track width and tightened the wheel-to-wheel-arch relationships without compromising wheel movement. It's an honest design that does a good balancing act."


With production feasibility being a constant concern, the major exterior changes are to the Explorer's rear hatch and the front end forward of the door edges. Fiberglass front fenders and a more aggressive carbon fiber hood have a rake angle below that of the standard fender line. The front also features a much larger grille opening for engine cooling. The vehicle's suspension is also dropped about two inches for appearance's sake.


The finishing touch was a custom tailgate. Again, the designers wanted to do as much as possible to provide a separate sporty identity without plowing off the budget cliff with expensive changes that wouldn't be able to meet production parameters. The main benefit of the new gate is a more aggressive, raked rear-glass profile.


Because sport/ute owners expect something special inside as well as out, Adams' team crafted a sports car-like layout that includes a floor shifter, good "stowage" space, big grab handles, and four bucket seats, each with an obligatory cupholder close at hand. The nicely contoured seats are covered with soft taupe leather, and several cabin accent pieces, such as the shift-console surround, are trimmed in the same cool-colored nickel as the exterior bumpers, wheels, and rockers. Ford wanted the cabin to send a message of luxurious, sporty quality -sort of an off-road T-bird.


If this vehicle looks like the right stuff to you, look for it on this year's auto-show circuit. If enough folks have a positive reaction, Ford just might push this hell-fire hauler off the show stand and onto the street. And we strongly suggest that a spicy, highly sophisticated sport/utility may be just the recipe that Ford or Mercury could use to heat up its currently tepid image.





Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/features/archive/112_9702_1998_ford_tremor/viewall.html#ixzz1noPYn4cX
 






now i found some post on this website. very few though. how do i post pics i will put them on
 












Had that article saved for so long, actually thought they were going to make it (wishfull thinking)... Comparing it to performance of a Typhoon is high praise. Considering how many Explorers they sold it is sad they didnt give it a go with this one. Wonder where that vehicle is now....
 






i wish i could find pics of the rear end setup as it seems to me that all the parts to build this bad boy are out there. just figure it out. my question is this how did they route thw exhuast. it comes out both sides. also curous since the new 5.0 is being fit into the fox cars and the 4.6 was jammed into the tremor concept can the new 5.0 fit into a 97-01 ex. if it will work then that is a factory 425 horse motor that we could just drop in
 






where that vehicle is now is a great question
 






I have not seen any other pics than the ones in your link. I had wanted to see the Tremor at the auto show, but did not get the chance. With as much work, money, time etc they put into it, there has to be more details and pics somewhere.
 






I have never seen or heard of this before but I def would like to know where it is now lol here's a picture:

Ford_Tremor_Concept.jpg
 






I have never seen or heard of this before but I def would like to know where it is now lol here's a picture:

Ford_Tremor_Concept.jpg

DUDE! :eek: That side exhaust! That front end, those Rims! it's all so perfect, wish they would have made them...
 






I know this thing is just crazy looking, besides the fact that it has a 5V 4.6L Modular under the hood, lmao I'd be happy with made an explorer with just that!! I really wish I could find more info on this, I've found like 2 other pictures of it...I hope it still exists somewhere!!
 






it looks bad ass i like it
 






All I want to know is how they shoehorned a 4.6 in there. Oh how I would love one of those in my st. Why didn't they go through with this?
 






Has anyone ever seen pics of the engine bay??
 






As Jay from Jay and Silent Bob said "I think I just filled the cup."

WOW!!
 






All I want to know is how they shoehorned a 4.6 in there. Oh how I would love one of those in my st. Why didn't they go through with this?
The guys on Trucks! managed to fit a 4.6 l V8 in a contemporaneous Mazda B2500. The trick was modifying both exhaust headers and steering shaft (I believe they used a u-joint shaft setup to alter the angle enough).

Technically speaking it is possible. I'm wondering just how practical maintenance on such a beast would be. I would be absolutely enthused to see someone actually recreate the styling.

I'm wondering about the choice for the exhaust dumps, would that not be problematic with the gas tank being in the same vicinity? Perhaps they exchanged the tank placement in favor of placing a rear gas tank in lieu of the spare tire.

images


images


tremor.jpg
 






Wow i love it!!
 









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That's the same article that jt thomas posted.
 






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