rocketbob

Hi folks. I'm a longtime Porsche owner and just picked up a 2003 996 C4 Cabriolet. Brainstorming an alternate means of replacing/fixing the IMS bearing.

1. Replace stock IMS bearing with another stock bearing. I would remove the seals making the bearing open. Replace the bearing with this modified unit.
2. Tig weld a bung on the cover to accept an AN4 aircraft fitting.
3. Notch the case so a 90 degree line will pass thru.
4. Make a spin-on oil adapter fitting which will have a tapped hole to accept another AN4 fitting.
5. Run a braided AN hose between the two, like others have already done.
6. Use a non-bypassing K&P Engineering cleanable filter on the spin-on adapter.

I have a machine shop and its no problem for me to make these components.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Bob

911Dreamer

DBJoe996

http://imsretrofit.com/direct-oil-feed/

charlieaf92

Hey Bob

Congrats on the purchase! If you're looking for a challenge/project and not too worried about resale or potentially ruining your engine, then go for it! Otherwise, just buy the IMS solution and save a lot of time/headache and be done with it.

Cheers
Charlie

Chris(MA)

Don't waste your time trying to come up with a solution for a problem that has already been fixed.

Buy a good quality fix for the IMS from a reputable vendor

Then go back to worrying about the other 99 ways your M96 can explode

sweet victory

Why?

rocketbob

K&P filters are very easy to inspect and clean. I'm an aircraft mechanic and maintain several airplanes and use them on some of these airplanes. They don't allow bypass oil.

As for why...$1400 for a few simple machined components is pretty steep to me. What I described is exactly the same as the $1400 solution. Aside from using a stock bearing I see no reason why it shouldn't work.

ltusler

I think the solution is more like 1700. Its a oil fed plain bearing. The bearing is coated. Go to LN Engineering or search here for more details.

DBJoe996

For the M96 engine, one of the best things to get is the L&N oil filter adapter and magnetic drain plug. The adapter allows for the use of a spin-on oil filter with no bypass, unlike the OE oil filter canister. I consider it one of the essential upgrades for our engines.

rocketbob

I've applied Techline coatings in several engines I've built, mostly aircraft. DFL or ceramic coatings work well in extreme conditions where the oil film can break down. To me, if the bearing is bathed with a steady supply of oil and the forces acting upon it aren't great then its of limited advantage in a case like this. I agree the best solution is a plain bearing that's coated.

Kalashnikov

You can be the guy #2 to try and make a home-made bearing. Guy #1 is a Voldemort of this forum. Please keep us updated on your process and document how it is done.

Also, if you are going to sell your car after the "IMS mod", let the buyer know that it is a home-made IMS bearing.

911Syncro

This http://imsretrofit.com/direct-oil-feed/ says: "Forced oiling of the ball bearing does not provide any benefit as the bearing does not require or benefit from additional oil. Lubrication alone is not the problem."

I really don't understand. What does this mean? Would DoF be somewhat helpful? There are some "diagnoses" written that the OEM bearing fails because the seals fail and the grease gets washed out, but then since there is no oil flow the bearing becomes loaded with bad decomposed oil (or some other foul stuff). If that is the root cause, then why wouldn't DoF help? If DoF alone is not enough, then how much help does it give?

Besides with my layman's understand of fluid flow, I have been concerned with tapping oil pressure from the system, and how it might affect oil flow in other parts of the engine. I suppose every oil pump is rated higher than the system needs, else we wouldn't have a pressure relief valve on the oil pump. It seems like an important aspect is to ensure that the DoF line and fittings are properly sized so that only the minimum required oil is going to the IMSB, or in other words which component of this solution meters the oil flow to the IMSB?

318touring

Where are you located @rocketbob?

fpb111

318,
Wave to him.

Barn996

I'd say go for it and craft your own solution based on your experience.Before you get started though post some pics of your Porsche.