The Rebuild of Bill Kuhns #62 Blown Gas Flat Porky Pig

[dryhoze1]

Hi Brian,
There is a little more to the engine story, let me clarify it a bit.
A very close friend of mine had a cousin that had this 1968 Dodge Charger with a 426 Hemi in it. He had gotten married and decided that this was not a good family car so he sold it to my friend for $1,000.00. My friend said it is cool but I have no need for it, I said I do have a need for a 426! So he said take the car, play with it as much as you want, take the engine out if you want, all I ask is that when you give it back to me that it runs and I will sell it. Soooo.....I had lots of fun burning rubber with that Hemi Charger and then went to the wrecking yard and bought a 383 & a K member and did an engine change. Gave the car back to Bob (my friend), and he sold it for $1,000.00 Everyone was happy, especially me. I ran that engine in the Sanger for 5 years, at about year 3 I put a Torqueflight in the boat, Wow! What an improvement that was. When I sold the boat I transfered the engine and trans into a Brand new DiMarco 21' Day cruiser. Arlen Kurtis rigged the DiMarco for me. That boat was the very last boat to come out of his Glendale shop on Colorado Blvd. At the same time they were re-powering the USAF SR-71 Starter Carts with Big Block Chevy's.
When They were all originally built they had Buick engines and dynaflow trans, not BB Chevy and Turbo 400's.

Love it

 

[Clank123]

Dick Landys shop was on Bahama street in Northridge. They had a pant load of 440 marine motors there in about 1977. Mike Landy did a lot of the machining and building. I took my 1975 Hondo Pantera with a 460 there around 77 or 78. I unhooked everything in my garage and trailered the boat up there. I backed into the shop and they pulled the motor. About a month later I went back and they dropped it back in completely rebuilt, balanced and blueprinted with a few go fast new goodies. Boat ran great.
Good old days.

So as I mentioned earlier, my Dad drove a Hondo with a Landy Dodge in it.
Allegedly it was a twin to the motors in both the Hot Damn Hondo and the Black Rushin.
The boat would run within a couple miles an hour of both of them(133-34) but it wouldn’t ET.
He won his fair share of rounds, but could never get around those two.
I believe it was all in the prop and the willingness to wring out more RPM.
What did I know. I was 15!
So here’s the Magic Dragon all metal flake, Landy Hondo at speed.
As you can see…ol’ Dad wasn’t afraid to use the “Up” pedal!

One more quick story…
My job between rounds was to check nuts and bolts, change gears in the V Drive if needed and help the owner run the valves when needed.
I would take one side and he’d take the other. They stayed in place pretty well over the weekend, so it was more of a formality.
So we’re checking valve lash at Long Beach and after I set one, I turn around and there’s the Legend himself, Dandy Dick Landy! Cigar and all!
I look at him with wrenches in hand and say…you wanna take over?
He looks at me and says…Son, you’re doin just fine.
Wow! If we only had cell phones back then!
One of the true Legends in the early days of Funny Car and Pro Stock!

 

[warpt71]

So as I mentioned earlier, my Dad drove a Hondo with a Landy Dodge in it.
Allegedly it was a twin to the motors in both the Hot Damn Hondo and the Black Rushin.
The boat would run within a couple miles an hour of both of them(133-34) but it wouldn’t ET.
He won his fair share of rounds, but could never get around those two.
I believe it was all in the prop and the willingness to wring out more RPM.
What did I know. I was 15!
So here’s the Magic Dragon all metal flake, Landy Hondo at speed.
As you can see…ol’ Dad wasn’t afraid to use the “Up” pedal!
View attachment 1186457
View attachment 1186458

One more quick story…
My job between rounds was to check nuts and bolts, change gears in the V Drive if needed and help the owner run the valves when needed.
I would take one side and he’d take the other. They stayed in place pretty well over the weekend, so it was more of a formality.
So we’re checking valve lash at Long Beach and after I set one, I turn around and there’s the Legend himself, Dandy Dick Landy! Cigar and all!
I look at him with wrenches in hand and say…you wanna take over?
He looks at me and says…Son, you’re doin just fine.
Wow! If we only had cell phones back then!
One of the true Legends in the early days of Funny Car and Pro Stock!
View attachment 1186459

What years? My Hondo ran a Landy hemi as well originally.

 

[Dkahnjob]

So as I mentioned earlier, my Dad drove a Hondo with a Landy Dodge in it.
Allegedly it was a twin to the motors in both the Hot Damn Hondo and the Black Rushin.
The boat would run within a couple miles an hour of both of them(133-34) but it wouldn’t ET.
He won his fair share of rounds, but could never get around those two.
I believe it was all in the prop and the willingness to wring out more RPM.
What did I know. I was 15!
So here’s the Magic Dragon all metal flake, Landy Hondo at speed.
As you can see…ol’ Dad wasn’t afraid to use the “Up” pedal!
View attachment 1186457
View attachment 1186458

One more quick story…
My job between rounds was to check nuts and bolts, change gears in the V Drive if needed and help the owner run the valves when needed.
I would take one side and he’d take the other. They stayed in place pretty well over the weekend, so it was more of a formality.
So we’re checking valve lash at Long Beach and after I set one, I turn around and there’s the Legend himself, Dandy Dick Landy! Cigar and all!
I look at him with wrenches in hand and say…you wanna take over?
He looks at me and says…Son, you’re doin just fine.
Wow! If we only had cell phones back then!
One of the true Legends in the early days of Funny Car and Pro Stock!
View attachment 1186459

Landy's shop was right around the corner from where my office is. I used to go there for all of my Hemi parts.
Mike Landy was very secretive about what he was working on and would often cover up engine projects before I could
walk through the shop. I did see Dick there from time to time, but he didn't seem to ever be working on anything.
I think Mike did most of the wrenching.

 

[Clank123]

What years? My Hondo ran a Landy hemi as well originally.

I’d say the boat was raced from 1974 through mid 1977 and then the owner Lou Simms, who had a trucking company out of San Mateo, bought a hydro and stuck the Dodge in it and ran UGH.
Duane Qualls was another one of his drivers.
Simms was a great guy. Learned a lot from him.
Had a cute daughter who was sweet on me, but I never paid much attention to her…no time for that stuff when you’re drag racin as a kid!

 

[warpt71]

I’d say the boat was raced from 1974 through mid 1977 and then the owner Lou Simms, who had a trucking company out of San Mateo, bought a hydro and stuck the Dodge in it and ran UGH.
Duane Qualls was another one of his drivers.
Simms was a great guy. Learned a lot from him.
Had a cute daughter who was sweet on me, but I never paid much attention to her…no time for that stuff when you’re drag racin as a kid!

I figured it was earlier, mine ran '81-84ish. Pretty impressive that in 10 years the mph was the same

 

[Clank123]

Hey PropDuster!
We were having a discussion in the V Drive forum about a members Hondo and Ray Caselli and his boats and products came up.
I thought of your restoration and how the Porky Pig is right in the same timeline.
The Panic Mouse had a couple of the Ray’s Welding Service stickers on it.
If I remember right one was on the pillow block backing plate and the other was on the driveline cover up by the V Drive.
We made a few to use on the restoration.
Got to thinking because of your boat’s heritage it might be cool to put one on it somewhere.
I’ve got one for ya if you want it.
Let me know!

 

[Clank123]

That same discussion got me thinking…how many Hondos have I driven?
I pretty sure it was 8.
2 pure flat bottoms, 4 runner bottoms, 1 sprint circle flat bottom and 1 hydro.
Only drove one at the races though in 2003 or so.
It was a retired BAF from the 80’s.
Boat worked really well.
Ran 9.50’s at 117 back when we used to run a quarter mile

 

[The REAL Prop Duster 281]

Hey PropDuster!
We were having a discussion in the V Drive forum about a members Hondo and Ray Caselli and his boats and products came up.
I thought of your restoration and how the Porky Pig is right in the same timeline.
The Panic Mouse had a couple of the Ray’s Welding Service stickers on it.
If I remember right one was on the pillow block backing plate and the other was on the driveline cover up by the V Drive.
We made a few to use on the restoration.
Got to thinking because of your boat’s heritage it might be cool to put one on it somewhere.
I’ve got one for ya if you want it.
Let me know!
View attachment 1190591

Hey Dave, I'll talk to Jimmy and see what he thinks, he went to Parker this weekend I'll get back to you! Tim

 

[The REAL Prop Duster 281]

The "T" tank welded ready for Porky Pig!

 

[Sharp Shooter]

 

[Dkahnjob]

View attachment 1202014

Great Picture Jerry.
When I bought the boat they said it had a Hemi in it for a short time, but this is the first picture I have seen of it. I believe most of the time that it was campaigned it had a Big Block Chevy.

 

[Sharp Shooter]

Great Picture Jerry.
When I bought the boat they said it had a Hemi in it for a short time, but this is the first picture I have seen of it. I believe most of the time that it was campaigned it had a Big Block Chevy.

That’s pretty cool Dave! I grabbed it off the Jack Cool archives page on Facebook.

 

[The REAL Prop Duster 281]

Got the boat back from having the cover made and Lefty's Pinstriping for lettering and numbers!

 

[Dkahnjob]

Got the boat back from having the cover made and Lefty's Pinstriping for lettering and numbers! View attachment 1209021 View attachment 1209022

Wow, you are really making fast progress on the boat.
Looks really good.

 

[Dkahnjob]

Got the boat back from having the cover made and Lefty's Pinstriping for lettering and numbers! View attachment 1209021 View attachment 1209022

Is this the same original Porky Pig or a different clone of it?

 

[old rigger]

Is this the same original Porky Pig or a different clone of it?

Post #1in this thread tells the tale.

it's the real deal.

 

[Dkahnjob]

Post #1in this thread tells the tale.

it's the real deal.

I know the boat well, I used to own it. My question was because all of the original posts were by "Dry Hose" Brian and this post is by "The Real Prop Duster 281"
Wondering if it is the same person, also a month ago the boat was just being sanded, pretty quick for it to be looking this good so fast. It was blue when I had it, green now.

 

[The REAL Prop Duster 281]

I know the boat well, I used to own it. My question was because all of the original posts were by "Dry Hose" Brian and this post is by "The Real Prop Duster 281"
Wondering if it is the same person, also a month ago the boat was just being sanded, pretty quick for it to be looking this good so fast. It was blue when I had it, green now.

The original post was from me doing the rebuild of Porky Pig #62 Green one, and Dryhose posted the build of the blue one he's doing in my original post.The Green one was owned by Bill Kuhns then was sold and the son of that buyer had it when our customer bought from him ! Tim

 

[The REAL Prop Duster 281]

Hope that clears this up!

 

[Dkahnjob]

The original post was from me doing the rebuild of Porky Pig #62 Green one, and Dryhose posted the build of the blue one he's doing in my original post.The Green one was owned by Bill Kuhns then was sold and the son of that buyer had it when our customer bought from him ! Tim

Thank you for the clarification, Tim.
Beautiful boat, nice job, should be a lot of fun.
Dave

 

[The REAL Prop Duster 281]

Got wiring, water pickup & dump and fuel tank and lines completed ready for delivery for customers Birthday!

 

[Clank123]

Boat came out fantastic!
Great tribute to a great racer!
Time to git’r wet!

 

[Sharp Shooter]

I hope to see it in person someday! Absolutely beautiful!

 

[Vamodsquad]

Got wiring, water pickup & dump and fuel tank and lines completed ready for delivery for customers Birthday! View attachment 1216731 View attachment 1216732 View attachment 1216733 View attachment 1216734 View attachment 1216735 View attachment 1216736 View attachment 1216737 View attachment 1216738 View attachment 1216739 View attachment 1216733 View attachment 1216734 View attachment 1216735 View attachment 1216736 View attachment 1216737 View attachment 1216738 View attachment 1216739

That's some beautiful work...Wow !

 

[retaocleg]

love the flake! bet is 10 times better in the sun

 

[rrrr]

Got wiring, water pickup & dump and fuel tank and lines completed ready for delivery for customers Birthday! View attachment 1216731

Your skill and efforts show you're a 1%er! I can't wait to see photos of the boat's function and beauty ripping across the water.

 

[Clank123]

I was given a treasure trove of mint condition boating magazines, monthly communications (SCSC “Bilge Rag) and programs, mostly from Long Beach Marine Stadium dating 1963 through the early 70’s.
Incredible history!
I won’t need to turn the TV on for days!
So I was looking through an old Powerboat Magazine from 1969…and look what pops up in it!
A recap of an Oakland Drag Race.
I believe the writer got the hull wrong cause I’m thinkin with the Hemi it would have been Dave Kahn’s old boat.
Just cool stuff!

 

[dave29]

Great thread!!!!! Thank you.

 

[RichL]

Damn that looks good!

 

[rivermobster]

Got wiring, water pickup & dump and fuel tank and lines completed ready for delivery for customers Birthday! View attachment 1216731 View attachment 1216732 View attachment 1216733 View attachment 1216734 View attachment 1216735 View attachment 1216736 View attachment 1216737 View attachment 1216738 View attachment 1216739 View attachment 1216733 View attachment 1216734 View attachment 1216735 View attachment 1216736 View attachment 1216737 View attachment 1216738 View attachment 1216739

That is an absolute work of art.

 

[The REAL Prop Duster 281]

 

[twingnut]

My Dad ( RIP ) use to take us to Long Beach every year. He love to take pictures with his little cheap camera .
He loved watching the Porky Pig run . Here’s 3 pictures ( terrible quality) that he took and he always talked about getting the boat in the action shot . He waited until almost dark see the boat come out of the water and placed on the trailer.

Great job getting this boat all back together.

 

[The REAL Prop Duster 281]

My Dad ( RIP ) use to take us to Long Beach every year. He love to take pictures with his little cheap camera .
He loved watching the Porky Pig run . Here’s 3 pictures ( terrible quality) that he took and he always talked about getting the boat in the action shot . He waited until almost dark see the boat come out of the water and placed on the trailer.

Great job getting this boat all back together.

Morning Dave! Are those pics from when Bob crashed Porky Pig?

 

[92562]

That is one sexy beast!!!

 

[MOUZER]

View attachment 1217598

"WOW"SWEEEEEEEEEET

 

[warpt71]

 

[warpt71]

 

[Vamodsquad]

Man, that paint is deep !

 

[timstoy]

View attachment 1217598

Kirk Kuhns getting it dialed in!

 

[dryhoze1]

Beautiful job on this pig

 

[Wheeler]

 

[dryhoze1]

Beautiful

 

[Bugginout]

This is a great thread! My grandfather bought a 1972 chevy short bed step side been in my family since new about to come into my possession. Truck is named old black. He also purchased a 17-10 Sanger at the same time. That unfortunately was sold in the 80's by my Dad. As soon as I finish the couple projects I have going currently I will be starting on the truck and I will start cloning a 17-10 to match the old Sanger.

 

[4Waters]

This is a great thread! My grandfather bought a 1972 chevy short bed step side been in my family since new about to come into my possession. Truck is named old black. He also purchased a 17-10 Sanger at the same time. That unfortunately was sold in the 80's by my Dad. As soon as I finish the couple projects I have going currently I will be starting on the truck and I will start cloning a 17-10 to match the old Sanger.

If you have pics you might be able to find that boat, it's happened on RDP before

 

[shan]

Just found this thread. Beautiful work!

 

[JJ McClure]

How is that throttle pedal mounted? Thru bolts or???

 

[Bugginout]

If you have pics you might be able to find that boat, it's happened on RDP before

I have pictures. It was silver flake with blue flake around the edges. Would love to find the actual boat. I’ll post up some pictures when I can dig them out.

 

[The REAL Prop Duster 281]

How is that throttle pedal mounted? Thru bolts or???

View attachment 1276165

Yes its thru bolted!

 

[rrrr]

The Hilborn setup is lookin' good!

Beautiful work.