Clint McDermott, Livonia, MI

OK, about the boat, it is a 1975 Hondo, 16'.  I bought it off a farmer for $1000, it sat in his field abandon for 11 years.  The engine was frozen and full of water, the interior was completely missing, and the trailer had flat tires.

The engine I was able to break free after 1 week of trans fluid, a wood block, and a hammer.  It is powered by a 1969 Pontiac 400 (6.6L), Ram Air III.  The engine code (WQ) says it was originally in a 1969 Pontiac GTO. The block and heads have matching numbers, and are probably worth more than
the entire boat.  I put it together with stainless valves, roller rocker arms, a rocker stud brace, forged 10:1 pistons, and matching Edelbrock Performer RPM Cam, Intake, and Carb (750cfm).  The exhaust and motor mounts are Nicson, long out of business, so I had to have some 3" stainless steel pipes bent up and over the transom.  I had a place in Detroit here do it with no creases, as they specialize in prison toilet drain traps!  What a story.  Put in all white VDO gauges including oil temp, fuel pressure, water temp, water pressure, voltage, vacuum, RPM, and speed. Also put in a huge bilge pump.  The front of the engine has no accessories or belts at all. The only accessory I have is an alternator, which I am spinning ackwards off of a serpentine Mustang under drive pulley bolted to the rear flywheel. It looks really slick, cleans everything up, and was free (I am an engineer for Mitsubishi).  I sprayed everything white, and may add some red stripes
this spring.  Trailer is red also with nicer wheels.

The boat runs very strong, and goes about 65mph....very loudly.  It is not ripping fast, but it is a ton of fun.