IMS status question

[gbp808]

I am in the process of removing the IMS bearing in a 2001 Boxster S tiptronic for a "preventative" replacement. Car was running fine but just when I backed it up 5 feet to where I planned to do the work, the engine made an awful noise, and I shut it down immediately. I am now at the bearing (not removed) and I have concerns but would like to get an opinion from someone with experience please:
1. a large amount of oil started flowing out of the 2 lower bolt holes of the IMS cover plate when the bolts were removed.
2. with crank shaft pulley locked at TDC i removed the lower green cam shaft cover to fit the lock plate but instead of a vertical groove, it is horizontal !
3.i drained the engine oil and there are tiny bits of metal.
4. looking at the bearing, still in the housing, it is definitely off-center, pic linked
https://1drv.ms/i/c/3836d55a2be6e141/IQCKdIcB-PfkRay_nHN2bJZJAcBrRBhkMTQaGlfJ4ISnvxU?e=B4A5n1

From what I can gather online, this all adds up to bad news I think.
Please tell me I'm wrong..........

[elgyqc]

1) ?
2) Did you remove the correct green plug?
3) How tiny and how many?
4) It is normal for the bearing to be off center, the flange holds the center of the bearing in place.

[gbp808]

Thank you Grant!
You replaced an engine, and it runs, I'm humbled.

1. I was surprised to see oil flow out the bolt holes, I understood it was a dry area, but I am understanding now there is oil in there, just the bearing is dry, My bad.
RE:the green plug: I watched the video from the LN bearing inventor, and the online instructions, many times, and it was not clear to me. My best guess was the lower of the 2 green plugs to the left, on the rear of the engine, when looking at the IMS bearing. It looked like the one in the video.
Could it be that the cam shaft groove is vertical under a different plug?
I don't have an understanding of what goes on inside the engine.

The metal in the drained oil did not seem a lot, couldn't see it at first glance.Most were tiny specks, one was a sliver, maybe 3mmx 0.5mm?

Any further advice would be much appreciated. I don't want to try pull the bearing without locking cam because of the LN instructions, but I also see youtube videos where they pull it without showing a cam lock???
Thank you
Garry

[elgyqc]

This video may help you figure it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXfR60GAJd0

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by gbp808

Thank you Grant!
You replaced an engine, and it runs, I'm humbled.

1. I was surprised to see oil flow out the bolt holes, I understood it was a dry area, but I am understanding now there is oil in there, just the bearing is dry, My bad.
RE:the green plug: I watched the video from the LN bearing inventor, and the online instructions, many times, and it was not clear to me. My best guess was the lower of the 2 green plugs to the left, on the rear of the engine, when looking at the IMS bearing. It looked like the one in the video.
Could it be that the cam shaft groove is vertical under a different plug?
I don't have an understanding of what goes on inside the engine.

The metal in the drained oil did not seem a lot, couldn't see it at first glance.Most were tiny specks, one was a sliver, maybe 3mmx 0.5mm?

Any further advice would be much appreciated. I don't want to try pull the bearing without locking cam because of the LN instructions, but I also see youtube videos where they pull it without showing a cam lock???
Thank you
Garry

The correct green plug is on the passenger's side of the engine, towards the front of the car.

[gbp808]

Grant, thanks for assist. Embarrassingly I did not have the crankshaft pulley at TDC, wrong hole. It was at the end of a hard day(for me) of wrenching. At TDC the short lock plate for the 5 chain cam fitted perfectly. I hope this means my cam deviation is close to good, did not run the durametric before removing the transmission.
I pulled the 2001 dual row bearing and it is in perfect shape BUT i found a teaspoon of mangled spring-looking metal in the caught in the metal strainer of the oil sump. Not even a speck speck lying on the bottom of the cover though.
I will start a new thread with pics to see if someone recognizes the metal bits.