“The fan motor inside of the radiator core is the heart of the innovation,” said Proform’s Booth Platt.
(UPDATED: 6-20-2019)
LAS VEGAS, NV — Proform Parts just changed the world for performance radiators.
Car builders, hotrodders, and engine swappers have been cobbling together radiators and fans for their engine-cooling systems—and squeezing them (or trying to) into unforgiving places—for the better part of a century.
Welcome to the future.
Proform introduced its brand-new entry into the radiator market at the 2018 SEMA Show on Tuesday—the Proform Slim-Fit Radiator System—which will be making waves throughout 2019 and beyond.
As radiators and electric fans go, this thing looks rad—and we say ‘thing’ because Proform’s radiator-engineering magicians have spent the past three years creating an all-in-one direct-fit (right out of the box) unit which includes your all-aluminum radiator, shroud, electric fan, adjustable thermostat, wiring harness, and radiator cap all fully integrated together and pre-assembled.
“Basically, you just plug it in,” said Booth Platt, Proform’s project manager, in a SEMA Show interview.
Less time cutting, welding, drilling, and mounting. More time hugging yourself and driving fast.
All of that would be super-cool on its own, but the real magic of this SEMA product launch lies in how thin Proform has made these all-in-one radiator systems. What typically consumes upwards of eight front-to-back inches of under-hood engine compartment space, Proform has cut nearly in half.
The Proform Slim-Fit Radiator System will include a radiator cap, company officials say. (Image/OnAllCylinders)
Proform is officially using the 4½-inch number, but a little birdy told us the Slim-Fit Radiator Systems are going to get even thinner.
Conservatively, the new Proform Slim-Fit is 40-percent thinner than your typical radiator/fan/shroud combo.
The company’s product engineers accomplished this by flipping the fan and fan motor around, so that the fan motor is actually mounted inside of the radiator because the Proform team is apparently awesome at brazing. The design doesn’t compromise the radiator’s cooling capabilities, Proform officials say.
“The fan motor inside of the radiator core is the heart of the innovation,” Platt said.
If you see a lot of electric fans mounted on radiators, then you already know you’re accustomed to seeing the fan motor jutting out and eating up a bunch of your sometimes-precious engine compartment space. Proform flipped the fan around and mounted the fan motor inside of the radiator because they love you. (Image/OnAllCylinders)
The design involving and surrounding the motor is covered by a couple of patents, and a patent is pending for the overall design of the shroud and core, Platt said.
These Slim-Fit radiator systems will be available to buy in January 2019.
There are currently 14 Slim-Fit radiator system part numbers for a wide range of both automatic- and manual-transmission Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler classic muscle car applications—from 1959 Chevy Bel Air to Fox-body Mustangs—as well as 1995-2002 Chevy S-10s and their GMC counterparts.
Each contains either a 14- or 16-inch high performance fan blade, Platt said.
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Watch and listen to Platt tell our friends at Summit Racing about these new Slim-Fit radiator systems.
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Any Chevy S-10 owners in the house? Swap in a small block Chevy or LS engine, and what do you have left for the radiator space? Five inches—that’s what. Five inflexible inches.
This 4½-inch Proform Slim-Fit radiator system is your new best friend.
A subsidiary of Warren, MI-based aftermarket performance company Specialty Auto Parts USA Inc., Proform is known for a range of products, including valve covers, differential covers and rear axles, distributors and ignition accessories, carburetors, gear drives, harmonic balancers, fasteners, gaskets, and much more.
You can now add skinny radiator and fan combos to that list.
(Image/OnAllCylinders)
Design AND function get together to throw a little party at the corners of the not-entirely-rectangle Proform Slim-Fit radiator system. (Image/OnAllCylinders)
(Image/OnAllCylinders)
Those slots on the right don’t just look cool. They help with air flow. But we’re good with just looking cool. (Image/OnAllCylinders)
(Image/OnAllCylinders)
I definitely interested. Building a custom 62 Falcon with 302 stroker Offenhuser tunnel ram 2 Holleys on top.
Around January I’m looking for cool in the Falcon to keep it’s cool.
Got a 1963 oldsmobile cutlass thats getting a 350 sbc in it and this would help with space .
Would love too put this in my 84ss Monte Carlo it would be slick.!!
Check out part number 69640.2. It should fit.
Do they plan on making any for older Fords? My Dad has a 48 Ford coupe and it is impossible to find aluminum radiators for it.
Maybe one of our Universal Ford models will fit since they start at smaller widths than the direct-fit versions. Cores start at 17″ wide and go up from there.
ARE THEY GOING TO MAKE ONE FOR A 66 CHEVROLET C10 TRUCK
hope the build one for the c-4 corvettes, over heating is very common in these and on the forums is a teady question on how to reduce temps. come on guys, put one in my 86 vette,
I WOULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER IT IF & WHEN MY 93 VETTE ORIGINAL RADIATOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT.
how will road miles, bumps, vibrations stand up to usage being the fan is bolted to the radiator core?
i dont see any other supports besides the welded section
Good question. The core mounted tank will be supported from above and below by larger extruded tubes that offer a significant strength increase versus standard rolled tubes. In addition to strength, they will also flow.
been 2 years, any more updates or any actual test vehicles? expect for sema, i have not seen any in use
Will this work for road racing applications? I am building a 1989 Camaro for vintage road racing.
How about a 35 dodge got one for that
One of PROFORM’s universal models may fit. 17″ thru 26″ wide core models will be available.
How do I find out if your company sells a slim fit for my 1968 C10 with a 396bb engine? And if so, where do I go to get costs to purchase one.
Looks great… I’m thinking about using it on my 70 340 Duster ( stroked to a 416 ) it’s an air conditioned car. I’m using a pusher fan 1996 cfm ( Spal ) 4 core aluminum ( Champion ) radiator. It’s not doing it’s job in 90-100 degree days with the air on… the serpentine pulleys don’t allow for a puller fan.
This system could change that. Your radiator itself looks like a great innovation, my concern is your fan. Not only an I concerned about the reliability of it, but that you don’t offer an up grade,… say something closer to a 2700-3000 cfm fan, or even the application of different make of fan, that I can feel confident in on Calif. 100 degree days… I can get around the mods I’d have to make to acomódate my auto trans lines… but offering a kit would uncomplicate that issue for many. Can you sell me on the kit you have as is. A response would be greatly appreciated.
Radiator design looks great…. im concerned about the fan.. modified 340 Duster with air…. hot ( 100 degree day ) you offer no up grade to a 2700-3000 cfm fan or the ability to use a different brand of fan, a kit ( sold separately maybe) to accommodate the changes needed to hook up trans lines would scare fewer away from your product as well… so sell me… why is this unit enough for my application.