GT3255E - Anyone still run it?

[ZMonte85]

I've been out of the game for quite some time and my car has been sitting collecting dust in the garage for a good while. I had put a GT3255E turbo on the car years ago shortly before it became more of a dust collector than a driver. Is anyone still running this turbo? It has to have been 10 years since I went this route and I know turbo technology has made leaps and bounds since then. Is it still worth running? Is there a better comparable option of there these days. Currently running 009 injectors on a stock 109 block/heads with an Erson 208 cam and a 2600 stall. Alky control to be installed as well. I have no issue changing out converters along with the turbo, so I am open to all input/suggestions. Main goal for the car is a fun/fast street/strip car. Doesn't have to be super streetable. It will come out on sunny days/weekend or go to the track. 10s in the quarter if you had to put a track time to it.

Thanks in advance for any input. I'm just now getting my head back in the turbo buick world. I've been gone too long.

 

[626gn]

I had a GT3255A, which is very similar to the TA49, about 7-8 years ago on a mostly stock GN. I enjoyed it for what it was, a fun to drive great street turbo that spooled crazy quick but fell a bit short at the top if I remember or it could have just been my setup at the time... I believe when the GT3255 came out it was touted as the successor to the TA49 but never really reached that status? Don't think you will find many still using one today. The biggest concern with the GT32 is if it requires any repair, now or in the future, it would be very expensive. Something to do with the thread on compressor wheel that needs to be VSR balanced once disrupted. My worthless opinion is if you're shooting for 10's there are much better choices out there these days. Which one? I'll leave that to those who are more up to date. Heck, I'm the guy who is still stuck on running a dinosaur of a turbo on a brand new build

 

[Mr.Spool]

Main goal for the car is a fun/fast street/strip car. Doesn't have to be super streetable. It will come out on sunny days/weekend or go to the track. 10s in the quarter if you had to put a track time to it.

the 3255 is a fun turbo on a stock build,it used to crank pretty good,in my opinion it was a 1/8 turbo and great off a light with a good tire and had great footbrake response,the issue you will have is running the full 1/4 seeking 10s i remember low 11s/118-120mph at 30psi needed,not that thats the end of the world but i will say 10s on a stock motor is something thats not easy to do and i try to steer guys away from that.its a high tuning situation with alot of drivetrain parts taking a beating that will need to be upgraded. if i had to run 10s on that turbo i would run 30psi and take as much weight out of the car that i was comfortable with.going bigger on the turbo say 60 series billet comp wheel will give you the option of running more boost above 30psi which will be needed to run 10s at full weight.now heads/ cam will drop the boost level needed to run 10s.here is an example,my car years ago ran 10s with a 49 it needed 30psi/with high timing,and a 1.4 60ft it was on a stock cam, stock compression,stock piston,with a ported iron head,it weighted in at 3800/3900 lbs at the time,and would go 125mph.fast forward,with a built motor and a 64billet bb turbo,the same car only needed 18 psi to run the same 10 sec pass and would do that on a soft 60ft,at 18psi 125mph,at 28psi car would go 138mph.inmo your better off keeping the car a fast spolling mid 11 sec stock buick going 116 to 118mph.if you really need the 10 sec pass with the supporting mods,fuel,drivetrain,etc,a 62/64 billet turbo 32/35+psi and leaving on all of it(1.4 60ft) would be the next step,if your ducks are in order and you have a little luck 124-127mph.

 

[ZMonte85]

the 3255 is a fun turbo on a stock build,it used to crank pretty good,in my opinion it was a 1/8 turbo and great off a light with a good tire and had great footbrake response,the issue you will have is running the full 1/4 seeking 10s i remember low 11s/118-120mph at 30psi needed,not that thats the end of the world but i will say 10s on a stock motor is something thats not easy to do and i try to steer guys away from that.its a high tuning situation with alot of drivetrain parts taking a beating that will need to be upgraded. if i had to run 10s on that turbo i would run 30psi and take as much weight out of the car that i was comfortable with.going bigger on the turbo say 60 series billet comp wheel will give you the option of running more boost above 30psi which will be needed to run 10s at full weight.now heads/ cam will drop the boost level needed to run 10s.here is an example,my car years ago ran 10s with a 49 it needed 30psi/with high timing,and a 1.4 60ft it was on a stock cam, stock compression,stock piston,with a ported iron head,it weighted in at 3800/3900 lbs at the time,and would go 125mph.fast forward,with a built motor and a 64billet bb turbo,the same car only needed 18 psi to run the same 10 sec pass and would do that on a soft 60ft,at 18psi 125mph,at 28psi car would go 138mph.inmo your better off keeping the car a fast spolling mid 11 sec stock buick going 116 to 118mph.if you really need the 10 sec pass with the supporting mods,fuel,drivetrain,etc,a 62/64 billet turbo 32/35+psi and leaving on all of it(1.4 60ft) would be the next step,if your ducks are in order and you have a little luck 124-127mph.

Thanks so much for the input. Any changes I make to the car will likely wait until this winter. I think for now I will concentrate on making it a safe fun driving car for the summer to enjoy and progress over the winter. At least I know where I'm headed now.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

 

[Mr.Spool]

Thanks so much for the input. Any changes I make to the car will likely wait until this winter. I think for now I will concentrate on making it a safe fun driving car for the summer to enjoy and progress over the winter. At least I know where I'm headed now.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

good luck and enjoy!

 

[Sweet6]

I ran a 3255E in the mid-late 00s. I got 11.30s at 123mph on 27lbs on s factory longblock. I had a LU converter so that helped the MPH. But on the street I loved that turbo with a 0 pump vigilante there was pretty much zero lag. I ended up swapping to a 6262 Journal bearing and it spooled like a slug compared to the 3255 with the same set up. If you want to upgrade and want similar spool up then go with a 6265 dual ball bearing. if it is mostly a street car I would just leave it until you are getting close to ripping off a 10 second pass. if you are knocking on the door of 10s then upgrade. Just keep in mind if you go with a 62mm turbo you might need to upgrade converters too. My $.02