Used Turbo Questions

[The0wn4g3]

I would like to begin slowly collecting parts to turbo my car and came across this ad on my local CL: http://auburn.craigslist.org/pts/2308226103.html
He said he it's new and wants $200 OBO for turbo, 38mm wastegate, and Honda B-series manifold.
The Turbonetics on TK.com is $800, so it's a great deal and I could sell the manifold.

Admittedly I don't have experience with turbos so I only know what I've read. So some questions:
In the long run will I save money by buying individual parts, or is it best to invest in a full kit?
How's Turbonetics reputation on Celicas ?
General opinions?

I'm in college so when I say slowly collect parts, I mean very slowly. This seems like a great deal, but at the same time most things that sound too good to be true, are.

[lVlemphizStylez]

ask him who makes the turbo or to take closer pics of it....i smell Chinese made crap. I could be wrong...but it smells like it

[reguile]

I make the turbos.. no.. I don't.. I've had a few "great" deals come onto me too before.. and I also learned to not get your hopes up cause they seem great, cause the other people or products don't usually come through.
Buying individual parts might be a hassle and would be bad if one part wasn't.. compatible with the other. Just do your research on which part works/mounts w/ the others and you should be fine if the manufacturer is reputable. If I were you, I'd just save that extra money though. Put it off to the side, and keep doing research to find out if turboing a celica is something you really want to do.

[Shizuma]

I didn't click on the link...I'm too lazy.

Go look at it, check for shaft play.
Take off both housings, check the wheels for FOD damage and oil seepage.
Make sure the shaft spins freely.
Look for ACTUAL VERIFIABLE part numbers and cross reference them (look at the housings and the CHRA).
Run a compression and leak down test on your engine.

[02celica]

More than likely an ebay turbo.. thats a really cheap price for a turbo, manifold, and wastegate. Wastegates alone are usually around 300$

[Smaay]

you will ALWAYS spend more trying to piece a turbo system together. get a kit, thats why we make them

[The0wn4g3]

After texting him I found out he signs all his messages with *The Situation* at the end. I hate to be the one to judge, but I'm not doing business with someone like that...

Thanks for the tips. I'll just wait and buy a kit.