New Owner

[river1]

Recently purchased a 1999 c2 tip with 26k miles with an unhappy childhood. The car looks and runs great, its had some minor bodywork at some point (new hood and repaint on the fenders) and a little 4wheeling damage on the underside. So far I've replaced the following items and 1 mod.

New brake pads

left rear track arm (it was bent)

wheel bearings, not fun without the correct puller (heat, freeze and beat)

Ln low temp thermostat (car is only running about 5 degrees cooler, seems like a waste of money)

both door locks are bad, small motors actuators are burnt, nobody will sell the motor which can be replaced (Mabuchi motor no part number only the name) guess I'll have to buy the whole lock assembily

changed plugs, had missfire codes and this cleared, runs great

Now here's the same old question, should I do the IMS mod from LN. I have the ability to do the mod. Since it's a tip dropping the engine and trans together looks like the easiest way to address it. I see no oil leaks and I'm a little dissapointed in the low temp thermostat claims and my results. LN also told me my low mileage car is a poster child for the IMS failure. Their recommendation (on the sales lit) is to do the mod during a clutch or RMS seal job, I may never need a RMS..... I want to drive the car but, the more crap I'm told and read scares the hell out of me. Loren please give me your honest opinon.

[Loren]

Sorry, I can not agree that low mileage cars are more prone to IMS failures. I do not see how mileage plays a role - especially low mileage.

If the right tolerances occur in any given engine there will be a failure. Some engines fail but many do not fail.

I own a low mileage MY99 3.4 liter car and my feelings are - if it happens then it happens. I'll deal with it when it happens.

So for my 2 cents - if the car runs well and does not leak oil from the RMS or IMS - I would leave it alone.

[RF5BPilot]

Although it may come back to bite me, I have taken the same position (for now) with my '03 996. The bottom of the engine is dry. It has never had any visible seepage from the RMS/IMS/PDQ or RSVP. At about 45k miles, the clutch still seems like new. While the LN upgrade is attractive, it is hard for me to justify screwing with something that doesn't seem to be broken.

The LN upgrade may turn out to be a valuable addition to our cars. Yet, the upgrade is so new, who knows how it will age. Will it have its own set of problems? Although not the same, you see medicines marketed every day that lower cholesterol, but who have to admit there is no evidence that they lower heart attacks or strokes. My point is simply that while it may be the greatest thing we've had...we really don't know about the long term implications for their product. While RMS issues showed up early, IMS issues (for the most part) took years to surface.

Without new motivation or information, I'm going to take my time jumping into that pond.

[river1]

Sorry, I can not agree that low mileage cars are more prone to IMS failures. I do not see how mileage plays a role - especially low mileage.

If the right tolerances occur in any given engine there will be a failure. Some engines fail but many do not fail.

I own a low mileage MY99 3.4 liter car and my feelings are - if it happens then it happens. I'll deal with it when it happens.

So for my 2 cents - if the car runs well and does not leak oil from the RMS or IMS - I would leave it alone.

Thanks Loren. Now if I can only find the $10 lock motors, I'll drive it to the local hotspots and show her off. Guess my tight butt may have to break downand spring for the whole $200 lockey johnson. Mabuchi (China) makes about 10,000 different motors of this type and they don't speak english. Yes the locks are made by a French Co. with Chinese parts, go figure!

[river1]

Sorry, I can not agree that low mileage cars are more prone to IMS failures. I do not see how mileage plays a role - especially low mileage.

If the right tolerances occur in any given engine there will be a failure. Some engines fail but many do not fail.

I own a low mileage MY99 3.4 liter car and my feelings are - if it happens then it happens. I'll deal with it when it happens.

So for my 2 cents - if the car runs well and does not leak oil from the RMS or IMS - I would leave it alone.

Thanks Loren. Now if I can only find the $10 lock motors, I'll drive it to the local hotspots and show her off. Guess my tight butt may have to break downand spring for the whole $200 lockey johnson. Mabuchi (China) makes about 10,000 different motors of this type and they don't speak english. Yes the locks are made by a French Co. with Chinese parts, go figure!

I also forgot to mention my mufflers were rattling when I first got it. I actually removed both mufflers, cut the shell open with a 4" wheel and repaired the cracked baffles. I should have taken pics as many on this forum seem the have the same issues. It was not very hard and cured my problem. Mufflers were cut on the on the large flat side, baffles tacked and closed with my trusty Lincoln mig welder. I can post pics of muffler welds to show were they cut if anybody is interested. My only regret is that I didn't use stainless wire.

[ALLSPEED]

Sorry, I can not agree that low mileage cars are more prone to IMS failures. I do not see how mileage plays a role - especially low mileage.

If the right tolerances occur in any given engine there will be a failure. Some engines fail but many do not fail.

I own a low mileage MY99 3.4 liter car and my feelings are - if it happens then it happens. I'll deal with it when it happens.

So for my 2 cents - if the car runs well and does not leak oil from the RMS or IMS - I would leave it alone.

AMEN sorry,wrong thread

Edited April 17, 2010 by ALLSPEED