I've got a Chinese turbo and it's fine. The ebay fabricated manifolds don't last but a few minutes but the cast ones are supposedly ok. Getting a name brand cast mani used is doable. Well made fabricated ones are a bit tougher to find cheap.

You don't need an intercooler to start with, just keep the boost turned down until you can afford it.

I will suggest going with stainless lines over rubber, but that is 100% a personal preference. Injectors, and intercooler should not be needed for 4-5psi. At least my 1.8 injectors were enough for minimal boost. You will need a clutch sooner then later and that will be another $500, so budget that in, DO NOT buy any clutch that in not an ACT, FM, or 949 racing. You will also most likely need a 1.8 diff after a while. That will be another $500 or so for everything to do that swap.

Now I forgot to mention the car was previously supercharged so it may have an updated clutch and diff. I'll have to research on how to check the diff.

Update: installed megasquirt, I don't understand why people even use band aids with how simple it is to install. Everything seems fine but after I change the fixed angle back to -10* it jumps to 18* on the pulley with the timing light.

While adjusting the trigger angle at 10* it's rock solid at 10* on the pulley but it moves when I change it back to -10*. Now the computer and pulley both match up to 18*. Is this right?

-10 tells it to use the spark map. That is normal and correct.

Just took it for a ride using the base map after setting the timing. Car ran fine other than a 1300-1500 rpm idle. I had the laptop hooked up while putt putting around the block. I must say, I have no idea what I'm looking at. The timing section was changing colors and rose all the way up to like 31* at one point. I have lots of reading to do on the great megasquirt... Just trying to get it as close to stock as i can, although it did feel quite a bit more "peppy"