I use to own a 1987 Pontiac GA, V-6 3.0. On one very cold day, like -30F, my GA would not warm up on a local trip to the store (12 miles) So after shopping, I figured I would rev the engine to a steady 2500RPM to make it warm up before heading out. Not 30 seconds later, I heard this terrible knocking, and then the engine died. Long story short, timing gear(cam shaft) stripped because plastic got cold. While the engine was still spinning at 2500RPM UNTIMED, pistons started slapping valves, valves started bending pushrods, pushrods started collapsing hyd. lifters. It was total meyhem.
Now, correct me if I am wrong, Buick makes motors for what, almost the whole pontiac line of cars? So, if and when did buick stop using plastic timing gears in their motors? What is the timing gear made out of in the 1995 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8 SE?
Considering that my Bonnie has 169800 miles on it. I don't want another episode of a major breakdown.
Thanks for any help
Mike

1995 Bonneville V-6 3.8 SE, 185deg thermostat, everything else is stock.
2002 Dodge Neon Bleh.

Not quite sure what you're asking here but, I can tell you that most GM gears are metal with Teflon coated teeth. Most people assume the Teflon teeth as a plastic gear when it'* not.

I've hearrd that GM made improvements in the quality of the timing chain system around 1992. I've heard of timing chains and gears going bad in the late-80'* Bonnevilles.

Yeah I did a timing job on my 85 GA 3.0. I assume there the same engines. The timing gear in that was plastic. I replaced it with a metal one. The plastic gear felt very light. I was surprised it made it to 100k. That engine also needed a new oil pump after 100,000 miles (Replaced the timing chain and gears at this time) and needed the crankshaft bearings replaced at about 120,000 miles. Front exhaust manifold cracked at 75k ,water pump at 90k. The only think that didn't need any work done at all was the transmission.