Last(?) IMS thread for the year
 

Happy New Year to Everyone!

So, here`s the potential last IMS question for the year: does anyone know the number of the non-serviceable IMS bearing? I just traded this 3.2 S engine basket case and surprisingly it came with this kind of IMS (bearing is missing). I thought this IMS appeared in the newer 3-chain engines, but this is a 5-chain, probably a transitional version, from 2004 I believe:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02/ims1672503754.jpg

2005 3.2 M96 for Boxster S was the transitional year for the large non serviceable IMSB.

https://lnengineering.com/products/the-definitive-guide-and-faq-for-porsche-ims-bearings/my06-08-porsche-cayman-boxster-911-ims-bearing.html?limit=8&mode=list

Yes, I came across that too, based on that info the engine should be 2005 or newer. Now, looking at the Bentley manual, looks like the 3-chain engine with the redesigned variocam came out in 2003, but this engine is definitely a 5-chain. It`s possible that this IMS is not its original. Or perhaps this was a factory replacement engine which Porsche built after 2005 with the newer IMS but with the early variocam system to match the DME :confused:

Once Porsche moved to the oversized third generation IMS bearing, factory reman five chain engines used the oversized bearings. If this was a factory reman, the engine numbers on the oil sump rail would indicate it is a retread.

Yes, that`s exactly the case. Engine number has "AT" in it. Mystery solved :cheers: