Timing Chain Quality on 1997 GTP

[HwyXingFrog]

Hey Guys,

I just registered on here and I can't manage to find the exact info I am looking for, so hopefully someone can help me out.

My brother in law just bought a 1997 GTP with 160,000 kms (100,000 miles) on it. It is in really good shape. My dad is a mechanic and warned us that the timing chain may need some attention, and other than that the engine should be solid.

His concern was 3800 timing chains in general, did GM put a different timing chain in the supercharged versions of the 3800? He mentioned something about the plastic pieces breaking on the timing chain of a 3800, but he said this may only be the case on the NA engines.

So, is the timing chain on the 1997 GTP all steel, or is it potentially plastic and requiring replacement?

Thanks.

 

[Keet04GTP]

Hey Guys,

I just registered on here and I can't manage to find the exact info I am looking for, so hopefully someone can help me out.

My brother in law just bought a 1997 GTP with 160,000 kms (100,000 miles) on it. It is in really good shape. My dad is a mechanic and warned us that the timing chain may need some attention, and other than that the engine should be solid.

His concern was 3800 timing chains in general, did GM put a different timing chain in the supercharged versions of the 3800? He mentioned something about the plastic pieces breaking on the timing chain of a 3800, but he said this may only be the case on the NA engines.

So, is the timing chain on the 1997 GTP all steel, or is it potentially plastic and requiring replacement?

Thanks.

I had a '97 GTP and put 157k miles on it... I never had any issues with it. I don't know of any plastic in the timing cover... The chain is all metal... And that is the case for both N/A nd S/C as far as I knew...

 

[HwyXingFrog]

Thanks Keet, that's good to know.

My dad was a bit unsure about the timing chain in this specific engine, that's entirely why I came on here. I guess I was just looking for some reassurance that we had nothing to worry about with the timing chain. My dad was also saying that if the timing chain was all metal that we would probably having nothing to worry about in excess of 300,000 - 400,000 kms.

 

[Zef_66]

The older 3800s did have problems with the timing chains. But the newer ones do not. Anything 96+ should not have this problem. I have not had any problems on any of my newer 3800, nor have I known anyone else to have any problems.

In my mind, not something to worry about.

 

[HwyXingFrog]

Perfect Zef,

That's exactly the verification I was looking for.

Thanks.

 

[GR8racingfool]

Timing chains and gears are just fine like Zef said on 96+ year 3800's.

The plastic chain tensioner though...can wear, and chip off sometimes over time. But never have seen a failure or MAJOR problem from one doing that. Half the time, everyone is driving their car well past 100K miles with a chipped one, and don't even know it. They usually only find it, when they are doing a cam swap.

~F~

 

[Reptile]

FWIW.....
the Timing chains are the same in both NA and SC applications, as well as the crank gear. The cam gear, however is different because the NA versions run higher cam timing.

 

[hermonrw]

Everyone is correct I just went and changed my timing chain and the dampner and the chain had very little play less than recommended but since I was in there I changed it. I just past 106 thousand now the dampner that supplies tensio to the timing chain was worn it had a timing chain grove in it about 5mm not a whole lot but like I said I was in there so I changed it along with many other things wish I had the money to change the cam but I was told I have to many toy's.

So if you ask me do you need to change it well is it a day to day driver or a racer? If it is a day to day driver leave it if it is a racer get another motor to play with when you get everything!!!! you want on it then swap it out.