EXHIBIT 5.1 WIGGIN & DANA LLP 400 Atlantic Street Stamford, CT 06901 (203) 363-7600 (Phone) (203) 363-7676 (fax) November 22, 2005 Proliance International, Inc. 100 Gando Drive New Haven, Connecticut 06513 Ladies and Gentlemen: We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), on behalf of Proliance International, Inc. (the "Company"), relating to 1,456,400 shares of the Company's Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the "Shares"), to be issued under the Proliance International, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). As counsel for the Company, we have examined such corporate records, other documents, and such questions of law as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion and, upon the basis of such examination, advise you that in our opinion, any original issuance Shares distributed pursuant to the Plan being registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, when issued and paid for under the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable. This opinion set forth herein is limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United States. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. This consent is not be construed as an admission that we are a person whose consent is required to be filed with the Registration Statement under the provisions of the Act. Very truly yours, /s/ WIGGIN AND DANA LLP
