The Year of the Dragon
July 16, 2023
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
B-Series Bullseye: Part II
We all know and love the Honda/Acura B-series motors and for good reason. They have been and continue to be the mainstay of the sport compact performance market. Sure, the new K-series motors are making headway with more and more performance pieces and they look to succeed the B-series once the supply of used motors becomes available in the quantities (and pricing) currently enjoyed by the B-series. But for now, Civic, CRX and Integra engine swappers, not to mention the horde of those originally so equipped, have made the B16A, B18A/B, B18C and B18C5 the performance Honda motors of choice.
A 2000 EL CAMINO
Regardless of where high school student Wyatt A.K. Freitas of Makawao, Hawaii, drives his very unique ’83 Chevrolet El Camino around the island, he always gets the same response: “I didn’t know that Chevrolet made a 2000 El Camino.” Of course, we know that they didn’t, but maybe Chevrolet should have.
C5 CAMARO
These are great days to be a muscle-car enthusiast. Performance parts are plentiful, new stampings to replace rusted sheetmetal are regularly popping up, and GM’s crate motor program makes it easier than ever to drop in a new power plant that combines incredible power with everyday drivability. Old Camaros or Novas have been passed over because they were saddled with a wimpy six. Now, however, they are the perfect candidates for a heart transplant, namely, in the form of Chevrolet’s marvel of horsepower engineering: the LS1 engine.
Spotlighter
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Derale Severe-Duty Cooling Kit Brings Serious Airflow to GM Trucks
A complete cooling upgrade for GM trucks that tow, haul, wheel, and work harder than stock.
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Photos Courtesy of Derale
When a truck starts working harder than it was designed for, the cooling system is often the first place problems begin to show up. Bigger tires, added horsepower, towing duty, off-road abuse, and long summer drives can push factory components beyond their comfort zone.
That’s exactly the type of situation Derale designed its Severe-Duty Cooling Kit (PN 68843) to handle. Built specifically for popular GM truck and SUV platforms, this complete cooling package delivers increased capacity, improved airflow, and heavy-duty construction in one engineered solution.
Built For GM Truck And SUV Owners Looking For Increased Cooling Capacity
The Derale Severe-Duty Cooling Kit is designed for builders and truck owners who demand more from their vehicles than a factory cooling system was intended to handle.
The kit fits a wide range of GM applications, including Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Avalanche, GMC Sierra, Yukon, Cadillac Escalade, and Hummer H2 platforms. Whether it’s a work truck pulling heavy loads, a trail rig spending hours crawling at low speeds, or a modified street truck making more power than stock, keeping temperatures under control is critical for long-term reliability.
Derale Severe Duty Cooling Kit
Part # 68843
Complete Cooling Kit Includes:
- Severe-Duty Radiator
- Dual high-output electric fans
- PWM CONTROLLER
- Aluminum Shroud
- Width: 34’’
- Height: 17-1/4’’
- Depth: 1-1/8’’
- Overall Depth: 3-3/4
A Complete Upgrade for the Radiator, Airflow, and Fan System
Instead of piecing together individual cooling upgrades, Derale’s kit combines the major components needed for improved thermal management into one complete package. Included are a severe-duty radiator, dual high-output electric fans, PWM controller, and aluminum shroud.
At the center of the system is Derale’s severe-duty radiator, featuring steel crimp strips, more tubes than OE, increased fins per inch, and a larger tube design to improve heat transfer and durability.
Keeping air moving through the system are dual 17-inch electric fans powered by high-output 265-watt motors. Together, the fans deliver a combined 4,800 CFM of airflow while using a skewed blade design for quieter operation.
The raw aluminum shroud adds strength and flexibility with TIG-welded corners, integrated stator flow directors, and multiple mounting options. Builders can polish, anodize, or paint the shroud to match the look of their build.
Reference Chart for vehicle applications.
| Make | Model | Year Range(s) |
| Cadillac | Escalade | 2002–2014 |
| Chevrolet | Avalanche | 2002–2013 |
| Chevrolet | Silverado 1500 | 2001–2013 |
| Chevrolet | Silverado 2500 | 1999–2010 |
| Chevrolet | Silverado 3500 | 2001–2010 |
| Chevrolet | Suburban | 2000–2014 |
| Chevrolet | Tahoe | 2005–2014 |
| GMC | Sierra 1500 | 2001–2013 |
| GMC | Sierra 2500 | 1999–2010 |
| GMC | Sierra 3500 | 2001–2010 |
| GMC | Yukon | 2000–2014 |
| Hummer | H2 | 2003–2004, 2008–2009 |
More Power and More Load Create More Heat—Controlling That Heat Keeps a Build Reliable
Horsepower is easy to appreciate, but managing the heat that comes with it is what separates a dependable build from one that struggles under pressure.
As trucks get heavier, engines become more powerful, and owners push their vehicles into tougher conditions, the demand on the cooling system increases. The Derale Severe-Duty Cooling Kit provides the added airflow and cooling capacity needed to help keep temperatures in check when conditions get demanding.
For GM truck owners looking to build with confidence, the Derale Severe-Duty Cooling Kit delivers a complete upgrade built around one simple goal: keeping the heat under control so the rest of the build can perform.
Ready to give your GM truck the cooling capacity it deserves?
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE about the Derale Severe-Duty Cooling Kit and order yours today.
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