The Heart of GNRS 2026: Highlights from the ARP Booth
February 12, 2026
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THE AUTO BUILDER
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Pyramid Optimized Design: The Builder’s Secret Weapon
When a build needs to go from “cool idea” to “everyone’s talking about this,” the pros call Pyramid Optimized Design. They’re the team behind some of the most talked-about show cars on the planet — using custom automotive design services to transform raw ideas into fully engineered, show-winning, road-ready components. Pyramid doesn’t just make parts. They bring visions to life, concept to completion.
Dalton Boydster
When we first began publishing back in 1999, I wrote about my friend’s ’32 Vicky. That car, and a ’57 Chevy, was photographed by Scott Killeen and graced that issue’s cover. This helped serve as our coming-out statement for our company—the rest is history.
ELECTRIFYING TWIN-TURBO 5.0-LITER
“From the very beginning, I’ve always raced this car,” Iida says. “In the past 11 years, I’ve put 10,000 miles on the odometer a quarter mile at a time.” Like most weekend warriors, Iida’s 5.0-liter Mustang started out life 100 percent bone stock. But with help from friends such as Honolulu Ford’s performance advisor Henry Tabios (a well-known island 5.0-liter racer in his own right), members of the Hawaii Ford Performance Club, Dillingham Automotive’s Glenn Aarake and Alan “Naka” Nakamura, Iida’s ghost-flamed Mustang GT has been transformed into a 9-second, street-legal twin-turbo terror, recording a best of 9.94 seconds at nearby Hawaii Raceway Park.
Spotlighter
THE CHIEF OF NEW JERSEY
A Supercharged LT4 383 Six-Speed ’96 Impala SS
Native American Russell Youngblood is a man you’d love to powwow with. Bloomfield, New Jersey is the home and base camp for one of the coolest late-model classic Chevys you’ll ever see. Many feel that the 1994-1996 Impala SS models are to today what the 1955-1957 models were to the ’50s. Youngblood will certainly agree. His dark green-gray metallic is custom from stem to stern—so much so that we’d consider it one of a kind.
Author
Doug Marion
Photography by Bill Erdman
Exterior Upgrades: Custom Bumpers, Hood, and Grille
The Impala SS’s body changes are many and include custom bumpers, hood, and front grille. The taillights are 1991-era sequential while the hood is a custom item from Suncoast Creations.
Performance Suspension Tailored to 9C1 Police Specifications
The suspension has been updated to 9C1 heavy-duty police car specifications. Included are Eibach springs, Bilstein shock absorbers, Herb Adams front and rear anti-roll bars, Medco upper and lower control arms, and an Empire Driveline 4-inch-diameter aluminum driveshaft with safety loop. The suspension has been lowered 1 inch in the rear and 2 inches in front. Simmons 9- and 10-inch wheels rotate P285 and P295-35YR18 Toyo tires. The combo is said to improve handling considerably. So much for the superb chassis and suspension. Yikes!
Powering Up: A Supercharged 383ci LT4 Engine Conversion
Youngblood’s work-of-art engine is the original 1996 LT1, but it has been converted to LT4 specifications. It also has been bored and stroked to 383 ci and features Ross 9.0:1 compression blower pistons. But that’s not all. The induction consists of a Vortec 13psi supercharger with 52psi injectors. Ignition is a factory LS1 system with a MoTeC fuel and spark management system. The camshaft is a special Crane Cams grind. Bumping the valves are Crower roller rocker arms. The exhaust system features tubular headers, Ramdon cats, 3-inch-diameter main pipes, and Flowmaster mufflers.
Transmission Upgrade: Heavy-Duty Viper T56 Six-Speed
Behind this wild powerplant is a heavy-duty Viper T56 six-speed manual gearbox. According to Youngblood, a Camaro six-speed transmission was tried, but it could not handle the engine’s torque output. Crunch time!
Interior Modifications: A Unique Blend of Comfort and Style
The interior has many modifications as well. They include Cadillac Fleetwood carpeting, an Astro van overhead console, 1995 Pontiac Bonneville 12-way seats, and an Alpine audio with 5.1 surround sound system.
From Mild to Wild: The Journey of a 600hp Impala SS
When Youngblood bought his Impala SS in late 1996, he knew he might have to spruce things up to keep the foreign cars in check. One thing led to another, and now he has a 600-plus-hp, 35,000-mile Impala SS that loves a steady diet of both rice and sauerkraut. Motor on, Chief!
