# Belt or chain

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-or-chain/54425>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** lesabre, buick\
**Created:** [August 30, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-or-chain/54425 "2010-08-30T23:53:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bedrock](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bedrock/32/868_2.png) [@bedrock](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bedrock)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-or-chain/54425/1 "2010-08-30T23:53:09Z")

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does buick 3800 moter have a timing belt or chain.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 11:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-or-chain/54425/2 "2010-08-30T23:57:03Z")

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Timing chain.

Tester

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**Author:** ![mark9207](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mark9207](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mark9207)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-or-chain/54425/3 "2010-08-31T05:44:31Z")

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Chain. The Buick 3800 is one of the best engines ever built, in my opinion, which is shared by many.

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 12:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-or-chain/54425/4 "2010-08-31T12:09:32Z")

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Correct; although this engine started out as a sawed-off V8, they gradually improved it and made it the standard for all GM brands.

It has proved to be more reliable than the 60 degree small V6 which started out as a 2.8 liter unit.

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 1:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-or-chain/54425/5 "2010-09-01T01:14:35Z")

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> It has proved to be more reliable than the 60 degree small V6 which started out as a 2.8 liter unit.

The 2.8l was a DOG…I had one in my S-15…It leaked (valve covers and oil pan)…and it was so underpowered.

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**Author:** ![Xebadaih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d07c76/32.png) [@Xebadaih](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Xebadaih)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-or-chain/54425/6 "2010-09-01T01:32:18Z")

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One of the best engines ever built? Maybe if it weren’t for the pervasive lower intake manifold gasket nightmare.