Anyone use CBM ported heads?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2012
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From: NearHouston, TX
Anyone use CBM ported heads? I'm shopping all the 243 alternatives: Buy a used set and send to AI or TEA. Buy them already ported, some by hand, some CNC. Lots of options! Just buying a used set from a non-vendor always has its risks - we have read the horror stories!
CBM is a very reputable LS engine builder in CA, just don't see their name out here much in my circles in TX. They sell a 799 cast fully CNC ported head, rebuilt with Manley components. $1500 set, no core fee. I've seen better flow numbers but I have been always told those number may be speculative and can vary from head to head, cnc vs hand, etc.
I'd appreciate anyone's experience with these. thanks!
CBM is a very reputable LS engine builder in CA, just don't see their name out here much in my circles in TX. They sell a 799 cast fully CNC ported head, rebuilt with Manley components. $1500 set, no core fee. I've seen better flow numbers but I have been always told those number may be speculative and can vary from head to head, cnc vs hand, etc.
I'd appreciate anyone's experience with these. thanks!
1500 for a well known and proven head sure. 1500 for a no name with no real life results is kinda steep. You're pushing into aftermarket as cast heads for that price and those will outperform even the best ported heads.
Teching In
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CBM is highly respected in the socal area. Known for being stand up guys. THey deal with mainly the sandcar and offroad industry/customers and have a reputation for building reliable stuff & standing behind their work when something happens. The sandcar guys at glamis are real hard on engines, it is a tougher environment for engines to live in.
You hear very little if any complaints about CBM, but you hear a lot of praise from satisfied customers. & They are not a small time shop & they build a lot of LS motors.Basically anything GM (ecotec,new school V6,Blown,turbo,tuning) May not be cutting edge, but represent quality and high value for the dollar.
You hear very little if any complaints about CBM, but you hear a lot of praise from satisfied customers. & They are not a small time shop & they build a lot of LS motors.Basically anything GM (ecotec,new school V6,Blown,turbo,tuning) May not be cutting edge, but represent quality and high value for the dollar.
Cool any links to them or there work. Ai is very well know and for 1500 you know what you are getting. Just want to see some of there work. I am looking at all options on heads too. Ai is my front runner due to rep and results
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2013
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From: Winchester,VA
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2012
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From: NearHouston, TX
thanks for advice. Thompson cast heads were the cheapest I found. Regarding flows, I think TEA stage 2's maybe had the highest flow listed. I was just at LMR in Houston and they have beautiful cnc ported / rebuilt 243's on the shelf and they are about $1800, I may just do that. I'm just trying to eliminate buying a used set, hoping they are legit. Packing them up, mailing them to be ported and rebuilt. costs add up.
btw here is CBM ebay site: http://www.ebay.com/usr/custombuiltmotors
btw here is CBM ebay site: http://www.ebay.com/usr/custombuiltmotors
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Brett Foote Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2012
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From: NearHouston, TX
this guy has a lot of sets, all cheap but all damaged. http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-GEN-III-5-3-5-7-6-0-CYLINDER-HEADS-799-243-LS2-LS6-/321294119827?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4ace9f3393&vxp=mtr
a like new set of 243's are already at over $400 on ebay and bidding don't end till Sunday! Add CNC porting and rebuild and you are up around $1500. I know there are bargains out there, I've never been good at finding them. A neighbor got dusted on a set of heads years ago, they were usable just weren't as advertised. Even junk yards are savvy now. some quoting me $200 per 799 head and they aren't even checked, just sold as a refurbishable part.
You can still find the LS6 243s on the corvette forums for 400-500 range and
end up with the lighter hollow stem valves. Have AI do their budget valvejob
and spring package and enjoy a head that flows 275/210 range for like 1000
1200 total.
end up with the lighter hollow stem valves. Have AI do their budget valvejob
and spring package and enjoy a head that flows 275/210 range for like 1000
1200 total.
CBM is highly respected in the socal area. Known for being stand up guys. THey deal with mainly the sandcar and offroad industry/customers and have a reputation for building reliable stuff & standing behind their work when something happens. The sandcar guys at glamis are real hard on engines, it is a tougher environment for engines to live in.
You hear very little if any complaints about CBM, but you hear a lot of praise from satisfied customers. & They are not a small time shop & they build a lot of LS motors.Basically anything GM (ecotec,new school V6,Blown,turbo,tuning) May not be cutting edge, but represent quality and high value for the dollar.
You hear very little if any complaints about CBM, but you hear a lot of praise from satisfied customers. & They are not a small time shop & they build a lot of LS motors.Basically anything GM (ecotec,new school V6,Blown,turbo,tuning) May not be cutting edge, but represent quality and high value for the dollar.
Not ragging on them as a performance shop, but just because they are in the car business does not mean they specialize in CNC porting heads and design of chambers and runners.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2012
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From: NearHouston, TX
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 555
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From: NearHouston, TX
I seen this vid while researching them a bit. Very cool car, carbed 425 LS3 stroker. A coworker based in CA said all good things about them, but he is into BMW racing and not LS engines. Tho he did say he wanted to put a LS engine in his old M3 
Staging Lane
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: California
For those of you who would like to know more about the Camaro, here it is. The guy who owns and races it is our computer tech guy. He started with the car years ago bracket racing it with a near stock setup and a small shot. After he started working for us, we decided to step it up a notch. The old stock LS1 and T56 were removed! We then built a 425. LS3 block, Manley crank, CBM rods, Comp/CBM cam, CBM CNC ported LS3 heads. It runs on race gas through a carb. It is a fairly basic engine and still makes around 650hp. It has been in the car for about 3 years now and has no had one problem, not even a leak. His car is limited to run a 10.00 so that is what it is set up to do. It can go faster but again he is limited to what he can run. The car itself is still a full body car with stock front frame. It is completely gutted, one seat, lexan windows and stuff like that. Not sure exactly what it weighs but I am guess around 3000. He races in the local PSCA series in SoCal if anyone is interested to watch!
