Poston intake

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by captjim, Oct 1, 2008.

  1. captjim

    captjim Well-Known Member

    Anyone using one on their 350? Any significant gains over stock? They claim 35 HP and .3 off the ET, that sounds like a lot to me. Thought?
     
  2. V8Sky

    V8Sky "Scarlett"

    Do a search on this board, I heard that there was not much difference in HP from the factory iron 4bbl intake and the Poston aluminum one (obviously a weight difference in the two). When I did a 2bbl to 4bbl swap I found a stock 4bbl 1971 intake and was very happy with the HP increase (plus saved a bunch of money over getting the Poston intake as well!)
     
  3. captjim

    captjim Well-Known Member

    I did search and that seems to be the popular opinion, just thought I would ask. I snagged a cast 4 bbl intake from the boneyard a year ago, popped it on and added a 205/215 T/A cam. But, it is a little sluggish, cranking Cr is 125, so I am going to go through it, see what pistons it has, freshen it up and bump up the cr.
     
  4. V8Sky

    V8Sky "Scarlett"

    >>How is the carb on your 4bbl intake? Perhaps it needs to be rebuilt?
     
  5. GotTattooz

    GotTattooz Well-Known Member

    I have a Poston S-divider on my 350 with a 750 Holley and a one-inch spacer. I bought it years ago because it was about the only option I found. I read that it seperated the#5 and #7 cylinder because they're so close in the firing order, and it would starve the #7 cylinder with other intakes. Now, I don't know that to be true or not, but I remember reading that about the intake. I like the S-divider just fine and would recommend it to anyone.

    -Josh
     
  6. SS-TRUCK

    SS-TRUCK Stage 1 X

    I have had an S divider for many years and am very happy with it . For me it makes good power from idle to 6000 . No complaints here .
     
  7. 70sLark

    70sLark Well-Known Member

    I have no idea which is better but when I was looking no one said anything good about poston, just something about the S design that makes 1 cylinder go lean or something like that.............

    But it is cheaper then a TA stage 1 intake new.

    So I ended up getting a used TA intake to go that route and not kill my wallet.


    How much better it is, I dunno but it was about 9000lbs lighter then my stock one that I would of never got back on with out a picker.

    [​IMG]

    Oh and I did that, someone had painted the intake red???
    Yellow n black powder looks sharper ;)
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2008
  8. TABuickMike

    TABuickMike Michael Tomaszewski Jr

    The TA and Poston intakes are not similar in any way (except for the fact that both fit the 350). TA's intake is a superior design so in comparison it performs far better than the s divider and it has no issues. Its just a tad more expensive because its a higher quality, higher performing, more reliable part so you know it will work flawlessly.
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2008
  9. TABuickMike

    TABuickMike Michael Tomaszewski Jr

    It is true that there isn't much of a difference if any from stock intake to a Poston s divider, what Poston claims you gain is false. However when upgrading from a stock intake to TA's intake there is a significant change in performance. Just because one of the two aftermarket 350 aluminum intake manifolds does not perform much better than stock does not mean that the second one is the same. Remember your getting what you pay for. You cant buy the cheaper intake (Poston) expecting to get the same performance and quality as you would the more expensive intake (TA). As a result the common belief is that aftermarket 350 intakes do not perform much better than stock. This is not true, this only applies to the cheaper (Poston) intake.
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2008
  10. 71skylark3504v

    71skylark3504v Goin' Fast In Luxury!

    Stock Intake is the only way to go! Much cheaper, and performs very well. My Stocker made 280 RWHP with ported heads, 212 cam, and headers. Even if there is a small gain, is the AL intake worth the hefty price? The whole weight difference argument is bogus for the daily driver. Putting a backpack full of books in your car adds weight but does it make that much of a difference. No. I believe the general opinion of the board is thumbs down for the AL 350 intakes.:Comp:
     
  11. 70sLark

    70sLark Well-Known Member

    Really???

    Many threads about folks wanting a new single plain design for 2-3 years now.
    The weight saving is worth it if you got a bad back, that stock intake weighs 9000lbs alone.
     
  12. 71skylark3504v

    71skylark3504v Goin' Fast In Luxury!

    These are dual plane intakes that TA and poston are selling. Now I have used a single plane X-Factor before and you CAN feel the difference. Car runs and drives better, of course more power too. Dyno averaged about 15 RWHP gain with this intake compared to stock, with stock heads!:eek2: So that figure, IMO discredits the claims of 35 more HP with the AL dual planes. The X-Factor flows many times more air than anything out there.

    The only reason I am not using mine at the moment is at the end of the summer I blew a head and had to have someone else swap the heads because I was in a pinch. I will hopefully be using it this winter with ported heads again. That's going to be crazy!:Brow:

    You're right about risking back problems. It has probably been foolish of me to install several stock intakes by myself.
     
  13. 70sLark

    70sLark Well-Known Member

    Just thinking about leaning over the hood trying to set a stock intake on there easy sends a sharp pain down my back/leg, Ouch.

    I could lift mine but only right near my body, trying to lean out and hold it was not gonna happen. And at the time buying a different intake over a cherry picker to reinstall the stock one was just more fun. Though I could use a picker now.

    Though the stockers are good, I had no problem selling my stock intake, even with the weight of shipping it went quick. Though it did help that I powder coated it mirror black. [that was before I decided to go aluminum.]
     
  14. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    This is an absurd claim. Ask Poston what testing they have to back this up.
     
  15. 71skylark3504v

    71skylark3504v Goin' Fast In Luxury!

    Couldn't have put it any better. Where's TAs proof too? Is this on a bone stock motor? :error:
     
  16. David G

    David G de-modded....

    Well, this is the info in the current TA catalog:

    15-35 HP increase, based on combination
    .320 sec. /3.5 MPH over Poston S-Divider
    Improves Power from 0-6500 RPM Better throttle response
    Reduces engine weight 40 lbs
     
  17. Doug Ray

    Doug Ray Well-Known Member

    I have the Poston on my 73 Regal 350 and it seems to work great with the 750 Q-Jet. I'm not sure if it out performs the stock intake. I never really ran the car all out before the rebuild with larger pistons, cam etc. But when my cam went south I sure was glad to have an AL intake when it was time to lift it off the engine.
     
  18. David G

    David G de-modded....

    I think it is more of an issue of bang for the buck. The stock intake DOES perform pretty well. But if you've spent money on the usual upgrades, like headers, cam, timing, head work, maybe the alum intake is a good next step. I have a new TA intake on the workbench, and would like to do a TA212 next year along with the intake. Screwed up and let some ported heads get away on Ebay though.
     
  19. Doug Ray

    Doug Ray Well-Known Member

    When I did my engine last spring, I did not have any port work done on the heads. But now that my Poston cam gave up and sent shavings all through the engine I will have the heads ported this time around. I purchased another Poston Cam this one is the 118. Not sure if I will use it, looks like a regrind to me. The last one I got (114) had about 10,000 miles on it. Had to hammer and chisel it out of the block. The cam bearings are so bad that the oil holes are damn near shut. I hate like hell to put another junk part on my car after all the great work and time I have invested.
     
  20. Nick A.

    Nick A. Well-Known Member

    I've got a Poston intake on my 71 350 Lark with low compression long block unknown mid 70s junk yard motor. The only feedback I can give is my time slips. 14.9 at 90mph....race weight 3750. The ONLY mods on the car are the Intake a 670 holley, HEI ignition, 2 1/4 cheap exhaust system, 3.73 gears with a 28" tall Drag radial. I never had a stock intake on it to compare it with, but it seems to be pretty good.

    Chassis dyno 210hp at 4700rpm and 280 ft/lbs at 3300(pull started at 3300)
     

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