Oil Cooler Helps Hot Rodder Keep Cool

This isn’t the first time Milledge Davis has brought his Chevy to the Banks Installation Facility. His truck has already been outfitted with just about everything Banks offers, and this is probably the final component for his ultimate tow rig. “I’ve had the Derringer tuner, Monster Exhaust, and the Ram-Air Intake for about 4 years now. Since that time, I’ve had the Boost Tube Upgrade and Ram-Air Differential Cover installed. This 2017 Duramax is used primarily for towing and only has about 40,000 miles. The only time I drive it, I’m pulling a 45′ toy hauler, about 28,000 lbs loaded. When I get to wherever I’m going, I’m either 4-wheeling or driving around in my Slingshot.”

“I’ve wanted the Oil Cooler Upgrade Kit for some time, and I’m glad that I’m finally able to get it. When I tow, I do not like to back down on power. I run the Derringer at level 6 always, and I just set the cruise control and watch the iDash do its thing. Traveling from California to Vegas I was seeing temps over 350°F, and I just wasn’t comfortable with that. I’d see the iDash start to flash when it was getting too hot. With the Oil Cooler Upgrade, I know that high temp warning will be a thing of the past.”

For Milledge, his association with Banks goes further back than that 2004.5 Chevy—it’s rooted in the days of hot rodding and speed trials. “I’ve met Gale several times at the Bonneville Salt Flats and El Mirage when I used to race my turbocharged alcohol Honda 750 motorcycle back in the 70s. He was doing his thing, and I was doing mine. The turbo on the motorcycle was an old Rajay that was off of a Corvair, and I ran a water injection system to keep things cool. We ran a lot of water on those runs and a lot of alcohol. The fastest I’d ever been on that bike was 212 mph.”

“I eventually was the head of the motorcycle division of the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA). I took a break in the early 80s for about 26 years when I returned with a Harley that I built for a friend. Ran great, but not as good as that old Honda.” It says a lot that Milledge trusts Gale Banks’ products on his vehicles, but then again, he’s seen firsthand the detail and determination required in the heat of competition. Not many can say that.