The more power you make, the more heat your engine generates. A stock radiator is fine for a stock engine, but add power, and eventually that radiator can’t shed the heat as fast as the engine makes it.
Of course, adding a bigger radiator or larger fans to your car can help you tackle the problem, but at some point, it’s limited by the opening on the stock core support. That’s because the opening on the core support was for a stock-sized radiator. There was room for a bigger one, but for factory mills a bigger one wasn’t necessary.
Rather than just tackle a bigger radiator AutoRad opted to address the core support as well so they could go as big as possible on the radiator side of the equation. Follow along as we see an inventive way to tame all that heat from your hard-driven, high-horsepower engine.
01 Efrain Diaz is running a built-up LS7 in his 1969 Camaro, and on extended track sessions or when idling a long time on a hot summer day, his cooling system was unable to keep up with the engine heat that was being generated. The single fan system would have an even harder time with A/C added to the mix. Lastly, the system was very tight to the front drive system, making even something simple, like a belt change, a pain.
02 The new AutoRad system had its own specialized core support, which means that unlike a traditional radiator swap we needed to blow apart the front of the Camaro. While this kit was for a Camaro, they make systems for quite a few cars and trucks.
This story is from the December 2020 edition of Hot Rod.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2020 edition of Hot Rod.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Making Connections
Project T-top Coupe: We install a Terminator X Max for big power.
LET IT BREATHE!
Project X’s new ZZ632 big-block needed to breathe, and this do-ityourself stainless exhaust kit was just the ticket to make it happen.
TUNING OPTIMIZED
VARIABLES WITHIN FUEL-INJECTOR CONSTRUCTION CAN LEAD TO POOR ENGINE OPERATION. HERE'S HOW TO TUNE YOUR FUEL INJECTORS.
Re-Flange It!
We check out the fab skills needed to run a flat hood on a 1970 Mustang with a very unique and too-tall engine.
THE TRIBUTE FOR THE WIN
Ron Capps wins the NHRA U.S. Nationals driving a Don Prudhomme-Hot Wheels tribute Funny Car.
So Close
Following a nearly flawless performance, a pít lane penalty kept the C8.R off the top of the podium in the IMSA Sportscar Weekend.
A RADICAL SHIFT
When you're a teenager and the police know you by name, it's not usually because of your volunteer work or class-topping GPA. Not at all. That was especially true for Jeff Kainz when he was behind the wheel of his 1975 Camaro. In the '80s, while cruising his hometown in North Dakota, his buddies with police scanners often heard the police tell one another: \"Kainz is out on Main Street.\"
WILD MASH-UP
Built to long-haul the 2023 HOT ROD Power Tour, this 1984 Monte Carlo’s facade hides a performance secret!
6 TIMER!
Tom Bailey captures his 6th HOT ROD Drag Week Unlimited/Overall title with his Sick Seconds 1.0 Camaro.
JIM MCFARLAND'S INFLUENCE WENT WAY BEYOND HOT ROD MAGAZINE.
Jim McFarland, the multitalented, multifaceted Texan who enjoyed several careers in the automotive performance industry, passed away in October 2023 at the age of 88.