Holman-Moody Falcon & Comet Power Packs?

David_Conwill

Well-known member
Discovered this ad on page 124 of the August 1960 Hot Rod:

HMPowerPack.jpg


Anybody know what they were? "Power Pack" to me means a 4bbl carburetor and dual exhaust, but that's for V8s.

-Dave
 
It could be the tri-power setup... not sure if HM made a tri-power or not. It could also be refering to the kit for the Paxton blower (not sure if that was HM that did that kit or not though). I found this image in a google search, not sure if the tri-power on this Falcon is made by HM, Offy, or Edelbrock. I don't know anything about this car but maybe someone else does....

2852415023_ee54552488.jpg


I know Holman Moody did do a Falcon with a streamlined fastback that they called the "Challenger" that had a Windsor swap in 1962 (before the Windsor was available in a Falcon from the factory):

challenger3_rally_falcon.jpg


I've read somewhere that HM did a Y block Falcon as well, probably before the Challenger.
 
I actually have the Y-block-in-a-Falcon issue, that's also from 1960 (May, I think). If I ever get a wagon, I may go that route (I'd like to tow a matching boat or camper). I have seen the Challenger before, but never really liked it. I *love* the H-M lettered Falcon, though. That would be a neat one to know more about.

-Dave
 
Eric Rose":2shfrcni said:
It could be the tri-power setup... not sure if HM made a tri-power or not. It could also be refering to the kit for the Paxton blower (not sure if that was HM that did that kit or not though). I found this image in a google search, not sure if the tri-power on this Falcon is made by HM, Offy, or Edelbrock. I don't know anything about this car but maybe someone else does....

2852415023_ee54552488.jpg


I know Holman Moody did do a Falcon with a streamlined fastback that they called the "Challenger" that had a Windsor swap in 1962 (before the Windsor was available in a Falcon from the factory):

challenger3_rally_falcon.jpg


I've read somewhere that HM did a Y block Falcon as well, probably before the Challenger.
According to the 1962 edition of Hot Rod magazines Hot rodding the Sport Compacts it talks about the Holman Moody upgrades and dyno tests. Holman Moody designed their own triple intake but never marketed.Basicly the intake kit was 2 extra carb stands that needed to be welded to the intake.With their cam kit which consisted of lightweight barrel lifters, tubular pushrods, single valvesprings with 98 pounds of pressure and steel spring retainers they were able to get the lil 144 to rev to 6,000 rpm, where it made 113 hp & 116 ft/lbs of torque at 4,000. Corrected for temperature, altitude and humidity H & M estimated the rating to be around 128 hp & 131 lbs of torque.
 
yep - i have that edition of hot rod ( march 1960) where they show the different ways that they upgraded the falcon- the holman moody one had welded on stubs and looks like a std exhaust manifold from the black n white photos in Hot rod


http//www.farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2852415023_ee54552488.jpg


i'm in australia and have a hankering to recreate the holman falcon power pack falcon

few problems is that they never did 2 door round body falcons here...and i figured importing one from, the states would be too much $$$. did speak to an engineer here about converting a 4 dooor to 2 door - but still need to obtain the longer doors 9(maybe could splice some smaller 4 doors to a 2 door...) ah problems multiply



anyways was after more info and actually emailed Holman Moody a few years back

and received a response from Lee Holman ( well pleased to recive that)

Hello,

Yes, I do have a copy of the story-- A fellow in Charlotte has made a copy of the car--- my brother drove the car and flipped it in about
1964 in California were the car was scraped.

The engine had 3 cast iron flanges welded to the intake boss one for each of the carburetors and it did run well.

Best regards,

Lee Holman




anyways my recreation has been on the back burner


brett
 
Challeger I was an engineering, pre-production 62 Futura (read: "hand assembled" but basically the same as what the prodution line would produced). The 221 cid Challenger V-8 engine had just been released in the 62 Fairlane and H-M decided to drop one into a Falcon.

Remember there were no Ford autos smaller then the full sized Ford to rob of parts so full sized NASCAR parts were stuffed undr the Falcon. 59 T-Bird front spindles on reworked control arms, 9" station wagon rear axle mounted under a set of 54 Ford rear springs, full sized Ford steering box, etc.

And an engine that had only been raced in Hydra plane boats for a very short time. (The 221 displacement was chosen by Ford engineers to support their boat racing hobby, like the Chebbie 265 the displacement was the max allowed in certain classes. I belive the Chebbie was in "E" or "F" and the Ford in "D" or "E".)

There was the ususal chrome removial, bumpers removed, a 59 Chebbie headlight door framed the two road lights hung centered just below the grille. The Paint was Ford's "Guardsman Blue" with the side indents white, the area below the bottom body line red.

15" H-M NASCAR wheels and racing rubber.

That car finished "second in class" (unlimited) in the Sebring race (12 hour?). However the record books don't mention the first in class won the race, and early Hall-Sharpe Chapparal, and the Challenger way down the list overall because of oiling problems to the valve train. The car was later raced at a "playboy's gathering" at Nassau later that same year.

I like the sound of Challenger I. I didn't realize there were three altogether. I don't like the appearance of the sectioned, fastbacked car, but a '62 packed with fullsize parts is something I've daydreamed about for a long time.

I wonder what they did to put the '59 T-bird spindles on? I asked about something like that once, and was basically told to forget it by people who couldn't see the point of building a period-perfect car.

I still wonder about the '60 above. What do you suppose it is? Challenger 1/2?

-Dave
 
I have also searched for info on the history of this car and the Holman Moody connection after seeing a pic from a FCA regional show in orlando fl.here is the link.you can see the Holman Moody CP tag above the master cylinder .http://1bad6t.com/suncoast/12regional/photo5.html

thanks for that - i looked on the web google search but didnt turn up those pics.

i assume thats the replica that lee holman referred to - thus the Holman moody CP plate isnt original (??????????)

good to see the interior - always wondered if it was bench or bucket seats and looks like it has a floor shifter

Brett
 
Hey all,
The H/M Falcon is a clone of the orig. Charles furr & Larry Miller of Midland NC did this car to H/M specs + a little. The orig crashed and burned if memory serves me right.The H/M power pack was cam,intake,carbs & header plus some undesclosed other mods. This car also has a 4 speed & i tink is a 200 six, with there again some unresclosed mods. I talked to Charles the other day and he was keeping some of the stuff that was done under his hat.

Butch Evans(Falconeer)
Thomasville(chair city) NC
 
falconeer:

your memory serves you correctly
if you check my post above, lee holman said his brother crashed (flipped)the orig in about 1964

are you saying the orig was a 4 speed and 200ci? - or your friends recreation is the 4 speed and 200ci?

as my reading of the hot rod march 1960 article said its a 144ci

thanks
brett

post number
 
Back
Top