Does a 5.3 have a timing chain?
Yes. The 5.3, like the rest of the LS family, drives the cam with a timing chain, not a belt.
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It still matters when you do a cam swap:
- Proven 5.3 build recipes list a GM replacement timing chain alongside cams and valvetrain parts.
- Gen III engines use a 3-bolt cam gear; Gen IV moved to a single-bolt cam gear and put the cam sensor on the timing cover.
- On AFM engines (single-bolt cam), a three-bolt performance cam needs a matching three-bolt gear and chain.
See LS cam swaps and the 5.3 power guide.