Mpfaff

If it has the original engine,the engine does not have to be ‘split’ to replace the ims bearing.

wildbilly32

ZuffenZeus

If this is the original factory 5-chain engine, it will have a serviceable IMS bearing - either the DUAL ROW or 6204 SINGLE ROW.

yelcab

Hmm....

BRS-LN

That is far from just interesting, that is grounds for probable loss of Certification.

Athos

Whoops I removed this post as it was not complete ...

zbomb

Oooohhhh… that sounds bad.

Poor Kelly Moss… however will they survive.

Oh… wait. KM is one of the biggest and most accomplished independent porsche shop / race teams in the country. They’ll be Ok… I think.

yelcab

Like I said, the B-team was on the job.

4Driver4

Maybe I'm confused, but this is what I read: "They popped engine out and tried to lock it at TDC to fit a new IMS"

De Jeeper

I would assume as everyone else has too that the op meant imsb.

168glhs1986

The race shops I know are used to clients with VERY DEEP POCKETS and clients who usually never say no when it comes to their race car. You have a street car. Not sure I would have taken it to a race shop for this work. Building a race car, sure Kelly Moss would be one of the companies getting my money along with Fall Line Motorsports up in your area. But again, better have deep pockets when dealing with most of these shops.

I would proceed moving forward with caution and make sure they understand your financial situation, whatever that maybe.

Porschetech3

It would take a lot more evidence than just 10* off on cam timing at 78k miles to declare a new engine was needed or that the timing chain system needed replacement/full tear down..

But that would be the ideal place to use the "timing chain wear assessment tool" I had proposed/surmised in a recent thread....... that will never get made due to the infrequency of it's need or use or ROI...

Porschetech3

Since the engine is already out I would tell them to install the new two short timing chains and cam pads and finish the IMSB install and install a new clutch/flywheel and don't try to "up-sell" me on anything else...

At 78K miles I think your long dual row timing chains are ok as is the rest of the engine unless there is evidence to the contrary...

Dr_Strangelove

@168glhs1986 This is sage advice that I often overlook. In OP's defense; if this shop is listed as an LN certified installer, then that certification comes with an amount of presumed knowledge on the shop"s end. That program is designed for laypeople to be able to quickly choose shops they can "trust" due to their requirements to qualify for these programs. Regardless of the shop's primary clientele, if they carry this certificate then I would say any customer should trust they can do the job correctly.

168glhs1986

Any certification worth their weight in salt should have to be re certified on a regular basis.

I’m not saying the case here is “marketing” but sometimes they just are that. I once sold a graber drapery rod 20 years ago and now I’m on their list of approved vendors. Sold one rod. I know nothing about their product and don’t endorse it at all.

Me personally I take a car to a race shop for their bread and butter services;

brakes
Alignments
fluid service
center lock service
suspension work

Some race shops service engjnes like this… oh it isn’t perfect? Call porsche or bmw and air freight a new crate engine in. Their clients have more money than time. I would think you would want the opposite when servicing a 996 engine. More time than money.

With that said when I’m trusting my life in a race car, I’m taking my car to Kelly Moss or TPC racing or Bimmerworld etc.

I know Im generalizing and not calling out anyone shop in particular but there are horses for courses as they say.

last thing I’ll say about big time race shops like KM. Most of them race there current car / engine. When you get into cars that haven’t been raced in 20 years the skill set can diminish on that particular model. Vintage racing shops not withstanding.