The simulation of primitives is done in Context>>#doPrimitive:method:receiver:args:��
Basically, specific numbers are simulated in the image while other numbers are run using the VM code.
Quick methods (what you call inlined methods) are encoded with primitive numbers between 256 and 512. If you look at IRBytecodeGenerator>>quickMethodPrim you should be able to find the specification of the quick primitive numbers (256 = quick return self, 257 = quick return true, etc...).��
Basically if you change this method to simulate in the image those primitive numbers instead of using the VM code and simulating by creating the context and executing it, it should work. Or something like that.