» Engine: Advanced Racing Dynamics 408c cubic inch 6.0 iron block
» Performance: Compstar rods, low-compression diamond pistons (coated), Hypertech 160 degree thermostat, Morel hydraulic roller lifters, Griffin LS1 aluminum radiator, Bauer-Racing custom grind camshaft, AFR 225s heads, Comp 921 dual springs, Thunder Racing heat-treated chrome-moly pushrods, Procharger F1A
» Interior: triple pod gauge pillar, Dyno Tune nitrous LC-1 A/F ratio gauge, nitrous exhaust gas temperature gauge, nitrous fuel pressure gauge, nitrous control center, nitrous boost gauge
» Exterior: Whistler mod, 30 percent tint, carbon-fiber Camaro nose badge, clear corner lenses
Keith Fidura remembers a forgotten stretch of road during his years in Philadelphia, before the streets were ruled, or ruined, by import tuners, when two guys could line up outside his business, set on the gas, and go for broke. The picture might be romantic and was certainly illegal, but as a tow truck driver at the time, learning his way through cars one breakdown at a time, it was those images that hooked Fidura’s interest.
The D.C. resident boasts a threesome of rides that includes a 2009 Corvette LS3, a 2004 Dodge Neon SRT-4, and the centerpiece of his collection, a pavement-rattling 2000 Camaro SS.
In 2004, Fidura bought the Camaro used after a frustrating two-hour drive to Pennsylvania to look at a car whose advertised picture looked nothing like the car staring him in the face. Fortunate for Fidura, on that same lot was a Camaro being washed down by an attendant. He didn’t realize it at first, but what he scooped up that day was a rare SS hardtop.
He started with some easy bolt-on performance adders, but the next year things changed as Fidura, who serves in the U.S. armed forces, was shipped to Iraq.
“While some guys were calling home, I was sitting on a rooftop in one of the most dangerous parts of Iraq calling the shop to tell them what parts I wanted,” said Fidura.
On his return to the States, and after he broke a valve spring, Fidura decided to once again enhance the engine by installing an Advanced Racing Dynamics 408 cubic inch, iron-block, low-compression motor with a used turbocharging system. But the modifying stopped when two years later, Fidura was called up to serve a second deployment. Finally in 2008, Fidura moved to a more reliable supercharger system. He also replaced the camshaft and did some aesthetic improvements as well.
One of the biggest challenges, Fidura said, is time and money. Having a full-time job outside of being an automobile mechanic, not having access to tools or facilities, and simply lacking the money to buy top-notch parts are all factors that affected the progress of the build. But over time, when patience was not only a virtue, but a necessity, Fidura stepped up and now his engine compartment specifications read like a wish list, one that includes a Procharger F1A supercharger, Katech adjustable belt tensioner, LS6 ported oil pump, Meziere electric water pump, Dragonslayer crank, and Compstar push rods.
To push all that horsepower through requires big pipes. So Fidura added Kooks 2-inch headers, Tuan’s 3-inch true dual exhaust pipes with Edelbrock 304 mufflers.
The future looks just as modification-heavy with plans on tap for a twin disk clutch, a methanol kit to cool down the engine even more, and a possible roll cage.
What do you drive? A 2000 Chevrolet Camaro SS.
Why do you drive it? It’s not the best handling car ever made, and there’s certainly a lot of people that do not like its looks. But I like the torque of an American push-rod V-8. I enjoy the sound of the car, rowing the gears, and it actually gets decent gas mileage. The faster I made the car, the more time I spent with it. The more money I spent making it fast, breaking my knuckles in a cramped engine bay, I became attached to it.
What makes this car so special? Well, I’ve never had a problem with it. It’s never stranded me, and if I broke something being stupid it has always gotten me home. I think LS1s have a good reputation on the street, and having a semirare version of a great car makes it special.
What is your most memorable driving experience? That’s tough, there’s so many. Probably when I met my current girlfriend. It was early 2007, I was kind of down in the dumps. I had just gotten out of the Army. Many of my friends were still deployed or have moved on. My ex-girlfriend at the time had just moved back to Florida. I worked a midnight shift at a job, so I had no social life. I had on the spur of a moment decided to go to a small meet of guys traveling to a Sonic Burger for a short cruise. When I pulled up, a lot of people started asking me questions, because at the time, a turbocharged V-8 was sort of rare. One of the people asking me questions was my future girlfriend. If I wouldn’t have had the car, I wouldn’t have gone to the meet. If I didn’t go to the meet, I wouldn’t have met the awesome woman I am dating today.
What music are you currently listening to in your car?
The orchestra of the engine and the symphony of the blower.
What was the first car you owned? A 1989 Firebird Formula. It was the first car I bought with cash that was all mine, no strings attached.
And your first ticket? What was it for? I got a ticket for doing 97 in a 55 when I was 18. It was 3 a.m. in the morning, I was coming home from work. Cop caught me at the Armingo Avenue exit. I love him to death for it too because I was totally in the wrong and I learned my lesson because I was sweating the consequences on the day of my court appearance. I had no excuse. I should have had my license suspended. However, the cop didn’t show for court. The judge looked at me said, “You know the officer doesn’t need to be here for me to take your driving privileges away.” I said “I know it’s what I deserve. I was wrong, your honor. I learned my lesson.” The judge fined me $150 and it was worth every penny because I got no points and no suspension.
