Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

I’ve got a confession...

badlieutenant

badlieutenant

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News Braunsfels, Texas
I bought a 2003 Porsche 911 with under 24,000 miles on the odo.

It’s a convertible and it’s beautiful. I got it from the Momentum Porsche dealership in Houston, TX.

I feel so strange driving it. It’s steering is so tight it feels twitchy compared to my LJR. The WOT acceleration is epic and it just begs to be driven hard and fast.

I got an excellent deal on it. When it was brand new MSRP was around $85,000. I scored it for a fraction of that and it might as well be new. It’s pretty much cherry sans your typical clear coat swirls and such that are so easily visible on a black car.

b030bf226259a65c5eea705f49f175ca.jpg


The wonderful sound coming from the rear engine flat 6 is like music. The smell of the supple black leather is just wonderful. The way it makes me feel like I’m sitting in a cockpit when clutching the steering wheel and 6 speed manual transmission is exhilarating.

It’s my first Porsche... and having owned several BMW and Mercedes-Benz vehicles, I can say without a doubt that Porsche is in a whole different league. It makes my BMW M3 feel like a toy race car. It makes my Mercedes-Benz feel like an old Toyota.

Porsche... there is no substitute.
 
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badlieutenant said:
I bought a 2003 Porsche 911 with under 24,000 miles on the odo.

It’s a convertible and it’s beautiful. I got it from the Momentum Porsche dealership in Houston, TX.

I feel so strange driving it. It’s steering is so tight it feels twitchy compared to my LJR. The WOT acceleration is epic and it just begs to be driven hard and fast.

I got an excellent deal on it. When it was brand new MSRP was around $85,000. I scored it for a fraction of that and it might as well be new. It’s pretty much cherry sans your typical clear coat swirls and such that are so easily visible on a black car.

View attachment 26939

The wonderful sound coming from the rear engine flat 6 is like music. The smell of the supple black leather is just wonderful. The way it makes me feel like I’m sitting in a cockpit when clutching the steering wheel and 6 speed manual transmission is exhilarating.

It’s my first Porsche... and having owned several BMW and Mercedes-Benz vehicles, I can say without a doubt that Porsche is in a whole different league. It makes my BMW M3 feel like a toy race car. It makes my Mercedes-Benz feel like an old Toyota.

Porsche... there is no substitute.
Click to expand...
That's gorgeous! Mid-life crisis car, or have you always wanted one? Sorry...couldn't resist! She's a beaut, fo' sho'!!! :thumbsup:
 
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badlieutenant said:
I bought a 2003 Porsche 911 with under 24,000 miles on the odo.

It’s a convertible and it’s beautiful. I got it from the Momentum Porsche dealership in Houston, TX.

I feel so strange driving it. It’s steering is so tight it feels twitchy compared to my LJR. The WOT acceleration is epic and it just begs to be driven hard and fast.

I got an excellent deal on it. When it was brand new MSRP was around $85,000. I scored it for a fraction of that and it might as well be new. It’s pretty much cherry sans your typical clear coat swirls and such that are so easily visible on a black car.

View attachment 26939

The wonderful sound coming from the rear engine flat 6 is like music. The smell of the supple black leather is just wonderful. The way it makes me feel like I’m sitting in a cockpit when clutching the steering wheel and 6 speed manual transmission is exhilarating.

It’s my first Porsche... and having owned several BMW and Mercedes-Benz vehicles, I can say without a doubt that Porsche is in a whole different league. It makes my BMW M3 feel like a toy race car. It makes my Mercedes-Benz feel like an old Toyota.

Porsche... there is no substitute.
Click to expand...

I keep going back and pulling up the pic. It's pure sex, I tell ya! And open cars are the best. Gotta love that "wind in the ha......"

Never mind. :D
 
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Squatch said:
That's gorgeous! Mid-life crisis car, or have you always wanted one? Sorry...couldn't resist! She's a beaut, fo' sho'!!! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

It could be a midlife crisis but I have always wanted one. I figured since it was pretty much a brand new car (such low miles) that it’d be unlikely for me to find another one like it, especially at an actually Porsche dealership.
 
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Squatch said:
I keep going back and pulling up the pic. It's pure sex, I tell ya! And open cars are the best. Gotta love that "wind in the ha......"

Never mind. :D
Click to expand...

My awesome genetics caused my hair to fall out! Don’t make fun of me! LOL



Oh and @Chris - I’m so afraid of it breaking. I know these models have an issue with the IMS and it can cause catastrophic engine failure. Sort of like how the OPDA can take a dump on our 05/06 Wranglers. I found an aftermarket solution that I’m going to have done when it’s time for a new clutch.
 
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That is what I am going to get after I dump my tr6 and corvette except a tiptronic convertible. the 1999 - 2007 are very affordable have seen them from 14 grand up....the IMS bearing failure issue has scared a lot of people away from them. Do you know if it was replaced? on a stick it is about $1100 to have it done or parts are like $300. The failures usually happened with 35K or below on the clock, it only affected less than 5% of them but if it happens the engine is gone. The problem with an auto is that the engine has to be dropped to do it and on the 6 speed it does not......I still want one!
 
cliffish said:
That is what I am going to get after I dump my tr6 and corvette except a tiptronic convertible. the 1999 - 2007 are very affordable have seen them from 14 grand up....the IMS bearing failure issue has scared a lot of people away from them. Do you know if it was replaced? on a stick it is about $1100 to have it done or parts are like $300. The failures usually happened with 35K or below on the clock, it only affected less than 5% of them but if it happens the engine is gone. The problem with an auto is that the engine has to be dropped to do it and on the 6 speed it does not......I still want one!
Click to expand...

It has the original IMS. LN Engineering created an aftermarket solution that is supposed to fix the issue and is considered preventative maintenance. The part is $799 and the labor is 12-15 hours, so it’s pricey. I was quoted $3500 for the whole job including a new clutch and oil separator. I have just over 24,000 miles now. I talked to the mechanic here in Texas that is certified to do the job. He said he did his IMS replacement at 90,000 miles and that the bearing looked to be in good condition but the encapsulated grease was shot to shit. He told me to just make sure the oil is changed regularly with a good synthetic and to not drive the car hard until it has been warmed up to 180 degrees. He said to drive it and not worry about it for now. I’m going to schedule an appointment for sometime in mid 2018 to get it done. He said it’ll take two days. His job is 4 hours from my home so it’s going to be a little vacation when I go get it done.

It is -fast- and I am driving it somewhat conservatively although I am keeping the RPM’s up around 3-4k. Apparently the IMS gets abused if you lug the engine.

He has to drop the tranny to get to it and it’s a perfect time to replace the clutch since the labor is already done.

I like it a lot.
 
badlieutenant said:
It has the original IMS. LN Engineering created an aftermarket solution that is supposed to fix the issue and is considered preventative maintenance. The part is $799 and the labor is 12-15 hours, so it’s pricey. I was quoted $3500 for the whole job including a new clutch and oil separator. I have just over 24,000 miles now. I talked to the mechanic here in Texas that is certified to do the job. He said he did his IMS replacement at 90,000 miles and that the bearing looked to be in good condition but the encapsulated grease was shot to shit. He told me to just make sure the oil is changed regularly with a good synthetic and to not drive the car hard until it has been warmed up to 180 degrees. He said to drive it and not worry about it for now. I’m going to schedule an appointment for sometime in mid 2018 to get it done. He said it’ll take two days. His job is 4 hours from my home so it’s going to be a little vacation when I go get it done.

It is -fast- and I am driving it somewhat conservatively although I am keeping the RPM’s up around 3-4k. Apparently the IMS gets abused if you lug the engine.

He has to drop the tranny to get to it and it’s a perfect time to replace the clutch since the labor is already done.

I like it a lot.
Click to expand...
I'll admit to having to look up what the hell an IMS bearing was. Fascinating. Not a brilliant design, by any means, but it sounds like there are ways to remedy that, as you've already found. Here's a very quick read that I found interesting, albeit a three year old article. Are you considering either of the two options mentioned in the article, or are you going a different route?

https://thegarage.jalopnik.com/how-to-own-a-ridiculously-cheap-and-reliable-porsche-91-1668638286
 
Last edited:
Squatch said:
I'll admit to having to look up what the hell an IMS bearing was. Fascinating. Not a brilliant design, by any means, but it sounds like there are ways to remedy that, as you've already found. Here's a very quick read that I found interesting, albeit a three year old article. Are you considering either of the two options mentioned in the article, or are you going a different route?

https://thegarage.jalopnik.com/how-to-own-a-ridiculously-cheap-and-reliable-porsche-91-1668638286
Click to expand...

Yep, I’m going with LN’s double row ceramic bearing instead of their “IMS Solution” kit. The “solution kit” is $1000 more and it is supposed to be a lifetime fix. With said kit, it turns the IMS into a direct oil fed bearing; in doing so it changes the type of oil filter you use, which I’m not a fan of. I think it overcomplicates things, I don’t want to have any extra oil lines or places stuff can leak from. The ceramic bearing is a direct bolt on fix that can be easily changed out whenever it’s time for a new clutch and doesn’t make any other changes. The price isn’t a factor at all. The ceramic bearing is to be treated as a preventative maintenance item and will probably be changed out every 75k miles or so (clutch time).

I bought all the stuff for an oil change since I don’t trust the dealer to have done it when they had it in the back. I bought a magnetic drain plug, the OEM Porsche oil filter, and the OEM Porsche air filter. I’m going to use Royal Purple HPS oil as it has more zinc than most other synthetics which will aid in less wear and tear.
 
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