IMS Solution Installation Question

I guess this question is mainly for Jake, but can an IMS preferred shop install the IMS Solution or would I be better off driving across the state to Kansas City where there is a shop listed in the IMS Solution website? I have two preferred IMS installer close by, but no IMS Solution installer. Thanks in advance.

Best bet is to contact LN Engineering directly (not too sure about Jake). Best of luck. P.S. if the PREFERRED guys have a stellar reputation, then your call. Or bite the bullet ( for peace of mind ) and go to the CERTIFIED guy.

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The IMS solution involves cutting a hole/slot on the engine case so some craftsmanship is involved. Not rocket science but I would prefer someone who has done it before. Also, the certified shops have an extensive list of things to check for pre-qualification (e.g., debris in oil, cam deviations, AOS, etc) and those are good things to check anyway regardless of the ims install.

Seems to be counter-productive to choose a unit that has certified installers and then just avoid those shops. I drove a little under 800mi to get mine done by a certified tech and ended up having a nice weekend getaway at the same time with the lady. My old bearing is with L&N, the extensive prequalification is documented in writing with a receipt that traces back to a certified installer, etc. I think IF the time comes to part ways with my 996 the new owner will be very appreciative of these types of thoughtful details. Not to say the suggested mechanic isn't good enough to do it, just a process thing. GL whichever way you go & have fun!

I assumed the preferred shops had training as well with certified being like a Masters or Phd. It's a time thing of getting the car there and back. I did hear from Flat6 and they are very busy but do arrange truck transport to and from.

We are booked for months here for IMS Solution installs. With my 718 and GT4 development going on, it has taken some man power from the shop that we need for IMS Solution work. That said, always, always, always, use an IMS Solution Certified Installer if possible. Why? They are the only people who have been directly trained on the IMS Solution retrofit (by Charles and I) and they are also the only people who have to live by a strict code of conduct. They have also passed an exhaustive evaluation before attaining the Certified Installer status. An LN "Preferred Installer" is NOT the same thing. Thats basically a paid position for IMS Retrofits, and does not specifically refer to the IMS Solution. Preferred Installers are neither trained, or evaluated.

Jake, please take this as constructive criticism. As I've read your posts, they are full of outstanding and hard won information. However, when you sum up all of them, it appears that only you, and intense precise training could possibly do any serious work on a 996 engine. Frankly, I don't believe this is accurate. If it was, Porsche NA would have hired you years ago and set up a "national training program" at their NA headquarters. Somehow, there are tens of thousands of 996s running around ten or more years later. So there must be other "competent" Porsche mechanics out there, someplace.

Would you go to a ear and throat doctor if you had a brain aneurysm?

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In this case, the IMS Solution is my invention. My name is on the Patent, and I spent 10 years of my life perfecting it. Trust that no one else on this planet understands the IMS Solution better than yours truly. This also means that no one is more concerned about the product being installed correctly more than I am. This is why we took the time to invite the sharpest people that have attended our classes to start the evaluation processes. It's also why we watch them like a hawk, and I'll pull a certification with one single issue. There's no second chance for Certified Installers. Now, Porsche would never hire me. They want people they can tell what to do their way, and that's not me. That said, I take the IMS Solution very seriously, and that's why you've never read a single post about a botched Solution install in the past 4 years the product has been commercially available.

I really respect Jake and his Intellectual Property stance, investment and protecting his income stream. It's a mature product, excellent design with well documented installs. This is my loved well maintained DD and not a investment. For me not worth the cost to truck to a certified installer. My Indy, Kennedy Porsche is not a certified installer to my knowledge. They are a Porsche race and restoration shop. I'm confident they are skilled installers. I decided to keep my bearing and mail in the warranty card anyway.

Thanks for posting Jake. I appreciate the clarification between Certified and Preferred installers. There are two preferred shops here in StL, one of which I use as my regular shop (nice people, love dogs) but with your clarification I guess I need to contact Jud and more info or else look at KC. I did get a PM praising the KC shop.

If I had my way all IMS Solutions would be installed ONLY by Certified Installers. The parts would never have hit the general market place, and only the Certified shops could do the work/ provide the parts. That said, it was more important to take myself out of the chain and move on to the next thing, rather than sit around and hold people's hands. Thats what I do, have ideas, perfect them, and then get the hell out of the way so someone that knows how to sell things can take it to market. I've been out of that "stream" since 2012. I only push people to do the right thing, and I train installers, because I want the product to be given the chance that it deserves to live. Thats because I take pride in what I create, no matter the money thats associated with it. Hell, I was at Porsche Parade all last week, and didn't even take a single business card.... But I did patch up two cars in the parking lot, neither of which were cars that belonged to my customers. All that said, if you are interested in the IMS Solution product, ONLY pay attention to the information at www.theimssolution.com Now that the IMS Solution is available for both single, and dual row engines, there's no excuse not to permanently retrofit your engine with the ONLY patented, IMS Retrofit product in the world.