We recently came across this neat product that’s just in time for the busy cruising and racing season: Derale’s Combination Cooler. For about the price of a transmission cooler (part No. 15902, $103.99, Summit price), you can get a unit that serves as a four-pass transmission cooler and a six-pass engine oil cooler. It’s got seamless half-inch copper tubes expanded into ¾-inch aluminum fins, and fin edge guards with a durable black powdercoat. The Derale combo piece measures 12.5 by 17 inches, with an overall thickness of ¾ inch. Also included in the kit is an engine oil adapter, fittings, 10 feet of half-inch hose, and four feet of 11/32-inch hose.
Guys who really use their cars in extreme situations such as autocrossing, road racing, or extended touring will appreciate both the Derale’s cooling capacity, as well as its simplicity. Installing a single device is going to be easier and better looking. But perhaps the best part is the minimal real estate it occupies. Back in the day, the air-flow management of muscle cars wasn’t optimized for today’s super powerful plants, and even with big radiators and coolers, there isn’t always enough airflow to get the job done. With multiple heat exchangers, it’s hard to find ample room in the air stream for yet one more device. Having a single unit to handle two important duties can mean the difference between motoring bliss, and an expensive detour.