Do IMS and what else?
06-03-2017, 12:02 AM
#1
Do IMS and what else?
Hello all,
I have just been able to allocate a significant chunk of money to taking care of some things on my 996. I will be getting the LN Engineering IMS retro fit bearing. But my question to you all is, what else is good to have done "while you're in there?" The total budget is $4k or less.
Clutch? If so, any recommended clutch upgrades? (Keep in mind, it is my daily driver and I really like the current character of the car)
Timing chains? Anything related to the VarioCam?
Thanks, in advance, for your suggestions.
I have just been able to allocate a significant chunk of money to taking care of some things on my 996. I will be getting the LN Engineering IMS retro fit bearing. But my question to you all is, what else is good to have done "while you're in there?" The total budget is $4k or less.
Clutch? If so, any recommended clutch upgrades? (Keep in mind, it is my daily driver and I really like the current character of the car)
Timing chains? Anything related to the VarioCam?
Thanks, in advance, for your suggestions.
06-03-2017, 12:08 AM
#2
Rennlist Member
I'm in the same boat on fixes. In greater Boston, there's a shop that does ims and rms for 1850. After I do that, I'm doing motor mounts, suspension and maybe bushings. Possible fabspeed cold air intake down the road.
06-03-2017, 12:18 AM
#3
Just some ideas. AOS, Water pump & low temp thermostat. There's some helpful info I just copied from Jake's FSI site into another thread.. careful what you wish for 
page 1 http://www.flat6innovations.com/inde...l=&limitstart=
page 2 http://www.flat6innovations.com/inde...owall=&start=1
page 1 http://www.flat6innovations.com/inde...l=&limitstart=
page 2 http://www.flat6innovations.com/inde...owall=&start=1
First you need to identify what these are and then research these using tools like this website, Google and online forums that you can access through the "links" page of this site here. http://www.flat6innovations.com/comp...tent/article/2 After you have a thorough understanding of the failures associated with the engine, you can understand our recommendations listed below much better.
Things to do: Upgrade the IMS bearing within the engine. This is first and foremost in overall importance as the IMS Bearing failure is the #1 issue that has killed so many M96 engines.
We are the Inventors of the IMS Solution, read more about it at www.theimssolution.com. Then have the same hands that developed it, install the technology into your engine, right here at Flat 6 Innovations.
Read more about the IMS Retrofit procedure and IMS bearing failures here http://www.flat6innovations.com/serv...haft-retrofit-
Replace the water pump, water pumps can fail silently and lead to cracked heads! Replace the water pump no matter how many miles are on your car, as time in service kills the plastic impeller blades of the pump, not miles!! Water pumps are cheap insurance, if a water pump creates a cracked head and intermixed coolant and oil exist the costs can be over 15,000.00 for repair
-Replace vario-cam wear pads and the 4th and 5th timing chains at 40K miles if your car is an 01 or earlier 996 or an 02 or earlier Boxster.
- Replace the engine's Air/ oil separator, its a cheap part that can keep you from going up in a cloud of smoke while cruising down the highway at 55 MPH.
- Don't become caught up in anyone's ploy to dictate the engine oil thats best for your engine. Over time other oils have been developed that we have found to be more superior than what the mmanufacturer would have recommended when your car was new. We have a biased opinion on this topic, so please don't ask us for an oil recommendation! We have worked with Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil to develop an application specific offering of engine oil just for the M96/M97 engine. Its called "DT40", so just buy it and know that it solved many problems in the development of it. Since 2006 we have worked to develop the best engine oil for our engines and until 2012 this wasn't offered to the general public. Each and EVERY Flat 6 Innovations engine is required to utilize this oil. The controversy related to other oil recommendations is something my company avoids completely. When you buy a new Porsche, they recommend Mobil 1, but when you buy my engine I'll tell you to avoid that offering completely.
- If your engine is more than three years old it probably has dirty timing chain tensioners, don't use engine flushes to solve them, have the tensioners removed, cleaned or replaced.
- Don't ignore engine noises or oil leaks, no matter how small they may be. Engines are not noisy, if they are noisy they have issues that could lead to catastrophic failure if ignored.
- Choose a proper facility to care for your Porsche and it's engine that is often misunderstood and not cared or properly
-Remove the engine's sump plate and inspect it for debris every 10,000 miles.. Also use oil analysis to help create trend data concerning the life of your engine.
- If you think you are having an engine failure STOP!! Shut the engine off and do not attempt to re-start it without it first being evaluated by an M96 engine specialist. Just because a shop works on Porsches, doesn't mean they are qualified to work on or that they understand your M96. Do not attempt to drive the car home or to a shop to avoid a tow bill, because doing so can cost you 15,000.00+ if the failure goes tick..tick..BOOM! Many of these engines are "driven to death" by owners who wish to save a 2-300.00 tow bill and end up costing themselves over ten thousand dollars or more. THERE ARE NO "GOOD" ENGINE NOISES!
-If you research the issues, update the components and understand the symptoms you can avoid catastrophic failure and enjoy your Porsche in the way it was intended for years.
-Don't ever think that "it can't happen to me" because it can and it does. We know what the strengths and weaknesses of this engine are from dealing with the same issues over and over again and seeing the same failures so often that we can diagnose failures over thephone in most cases. We'd be happy to help create a pre-failure course of action for your Porsche and apply updates as required for your year and model.
When its too late; it really is too late.
Jake Raby
Things to do: Upgrade the IMS bearing within the engine. This is first and foremost in overall importance as the IMS Bearing failure is the #1 issue that has killed so many M96 engines.
We are the Inventors of the IMS Solution, read more about it at www.theimssolution.com. Then have the same hands that developed it, install the technology into your engine, right here at Flat 6 Innovations.
Read more about the IMS Retrofit procedure and IMS bearing failures here http://www.flat6innovations.com/serv...haft-retrofit-
Replace the water pump, water pumps can fail silently and lead to cracked heads! Replace the water pump no matter how many miles are on your car, as time in service kills the plastic impeller blades of the pump, not miles!! Water pumps are cheap insurance, if a water pump creates a cracked head and intermixed coolant and oil exist the costs can be over 15,000.00 for repair
-Replace vario-cam wear pads and the 4th and 5th timing chains at 40K miles if your car is an 01 or earlier 996 or an 02 or earlier Boxster.
- Replace the engine's Air/ oil separator, its a cheap part that can keep you from going up in a cloud of smoke while cruising down the highway at 55 MPH.
- Don't become caught up in anyone's ploy to dictate the engine oil thats best for your engine. Over time other oils have been developed that we have found to be more superior than what the mmanufacturer would have recommended when your car was new. We have a biased opinion on this topic, so please don't ask us for an oil recommendation! We have worked with Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil to develop an application specific offering of engine oil just for the M96/M97 engine. Its called "DT40", so just buy it and know that it solved many problems in the development of it. Since 2006 we have worked to develop the best engine oil for our engines and until 2012 this wasn't offered to the general public. Each and EVERY Flat 6 Innovations engine is required to utilize this oil. The controversy related to other oil recommendations is something my company avoids completely. When you buy a new Porsche, they recommend Mobil 1, but when you buy my engine I'll tell you to avoid that offering completely.
- If your engine is more than three years old it probably has dirty timing chain tensioners, don't use engine flushes to solve them, have the tensioners removed, cleaned or replaced.
- Don't ignore engine noises or oil leaks, no matter how small they may be. Engines are not noisy, if they are noisy they have issues that could lead to catastrophic failure if ignored.
- Choose a proper facility to care for your Porsche and it's engine that is often misunderstood and not cared or properly
-Remove the engine's sump plate and inspect it for debris every 10,000 miles.. Also use oil analysis to help create trend data concerning the life of your engine.
- If you think you are having an engine failure STOP!! Shut the engine off and do not attempt to re-start it without it first being evaluated by an M96 engine specialist. Just because a shop works on Porsches, doesn't mean they are qualified to work on or that they understand your M96. Do not attempt to drive the car home or to a shop to avoid a tow bill, because doing so can cost you 15,000.00+ if the failure goes tick..tick..BOOM! Many of these engines are "driven to death" by owners who wish to save a 2-300.00 tow bill and end up costing themselves over ten thousand dollars or more. THERE ARE NO "GOOD" ENGINE NOISES!
-If you research the issues, update the components and understand the symptoms you can avoid catastrophic failure and enjoy your Porsche in the way it was intended for years.
-Don't ever think that "it can't happen to me" because it can and it does. We know what the strengths and weaknesses of this engine are from dealing with the same issues over and over again and seeing the same failures so often that we can diagnose failures over thephone in most cases. We'd be happy to help create a pre-failure course of action for your Porsche and apply updates as required for your year and model.
When its too late; it really is too late.
Jake Raby
06-03-2017, 12:27 AM
#4
AOS was done 7k miles ago. I'll have to check my records to see if the water pump was done. Low temp thermostat... check. Tensioners... check.
Oh- I am currently at 112k miles.
List so far:
IMS
Tensioners
Low-temp thermostat
Water pump
Oh- I am currently at 112k miles.
List so far:
IMS
Tensioners
Low-temp thermostat
Water pump
06-03-2017, 12:40 AM
#5
Burning Brakes
The traditional trio is IMSB/rear main seal/clutch. The OE Sachs clutch kit is fairly popular and probably makes sense if you like how the car feels and drives.
You might consider AOS replacement while it's accessible. There's a lot of information in various thread about the AOS, and (surprise) many conflicting opinions. Given the recent discussion regarding the dubious quality of brand-new AOS's, you'll definitely want to read up on this.
It's not a very expensive part, but the AOS is in a difficult-to-access spot on the transmission side of the engine. As a stand-alone repair, a shop will probably charge several hours of labor for an AOS replacement. Bundled in with IMSB and RMS, I'd expect maybe an additional hour of labor.
(Sorry for the duplication ... for some reason, this post took a long time to get posted)
As a former 944 owner, you may not be shocked to hear the water pump mentioned as a wear item. Again, that's something to read up on and think about depending on the age and service history of the car.
You might consider AOS replacement while it's accessible. There's a lot of information in various thread about the AOS, and (surprise) many conflicting opinions. Given the recent discussion regarding the dubious quality of brand-new AOS's, you'll definitely want to read up on this.
It's not a very expensive part, but the AOS is in a difficult-to-access spot on the transmission side of the engine. As a stand-alone repair, a shop will probably charge several hours of labor for an AOS replacement. Bundled in with IMSB and RMS, I'd expect maybe an additional hour of labor.
(Sorry for the duplication ... for some reason, this post took a long time to get posted)
As a former 944 owner, you may not be shocked to hear the water pump mentioned as a wear item. Again, that's something to read up on and think about depending on the age and service history of the car.
06-05-2017, 10:34 PM
#6
Track Day
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My 01 C4 is there now. With tax it's $2550 for IMS, RMS, and clutch. After some tests we decided to do the cam pads, plugs, coils, and a few other misc things in the interest of getting to a known place on my car that is currently at 105k miles. It's not a cheap week for me, but I've found their communication to be excellent and based on the amount of work being done the price is fair.