The age of muscle cars peaked as the 1970s began, and the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 helped herald that summit. When GM lifted its displacement ban on mid-size cars, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick responded with 455-cubic-inch mills producing up to 370 brake horsepower. Chevrolet's answer was a 454-cubic-inch V8 that started at 360 bhp and topped out at a staggering 450. This was the absolute pinnacle of the muscle car era.
The restyled 1970 Chevelle presented the Super Sport as an option package for hardtops and convertibles. The SS 396 package cost $446 and included a 350-bhp 402-cubic-inch V8, power front discs, F41 suspension, Polyglas F70x14 tires, and a domed hood. Fat dorsal stripes were optional but came included with the $147 cowl-induction hood, which featured a flapper near the base of the windshield that opened at full throttle to feed air directly to the engine.
Chevrolet offered two distinct 454-cubic-inch engines in the SS 454 package. The $503 package came with the LS5, a 360-bhp hydraulic-lifter 454. Then there was the LS6, the take-no-prisoners option. The LS6 packed an 800-cfm Holley four-barrel on an aluminum manifold, 11.25:1 compression, solid lifters, four-bolt mains, a forged steel crank and connecting rods, forged aluminum pistons, and deep-groove accessory pulleys. No production engine has ever carried a higher factory horsepower rating. With mandatory options including either the Rock Crusher four-speed or special Turbo 400 automatic, the total cost for an LS6-equipped Chevelle exceeded $1,000 over the base car. Axle ratios ranged from 3.31:1 to 4.10:1, with Positraction running $42 extra.
On the road, the SS Chevelle exhibited far more poise than its size and weight might suggest. But the LS6 made it a superstar. Sub-14-second quarter-mile times at over 100 mph were routine. The muscle car era would not last much longer, as tightening emissions regulations and rising insurance costs were already closing in. But for one brilliant moment, the Chevelle SS 454 stood at the very top.
These high-output Chevelles demanded serious cooling capacity then, and they still do today. Griffin Thermal Products builds exact-fit aluminum radiators for 1970s Chevelles, delivering the cooling performance these legendary muscle cars deserve.
Available Radiators
40 products available for 1970s Chevelle
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 34.0" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 1050 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 32.0" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.5" x 19.01" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 750 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.86" x 19.0" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 850 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 34.0" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 1050 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 32.0" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.5" x 19.01" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 750 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.86" x 19.0" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 850 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 33.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 1050 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 33.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 1050 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.5" x 18.5" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 850 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.5" x 18.5" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 850 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 33.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 1050 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 33.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 1050 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.5" x 18.5" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 850 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.5" x 18.5" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 850 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 34.0" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 1050 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 32.0" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 33.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 1050 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 33.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 1050 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.5" x 18.5" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 850 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.5" x 18.5" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 850 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.5" x 19.01" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 750 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.86" x 19.0" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 850 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 34.0" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 1050 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 32.0" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 33.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 1050 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 33.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 1050 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.25" x 18.62" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.5" x 18.5" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 850 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.5" x 18.5" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 850 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.5" x 19.01" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 750 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 26.86" x 19.0" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 850 HP.