No pictures yet. Let’s start with the basics first..
1.) Verify that your turbo is not seized up. Remove the turbo intake if you have one so you can see the compressor wheel. Start the engine and visually check if the wheel is spinning. Sometimes journal bearing or larger turbos don’t have enough exhaust energy to spin at idle so try to blip the throttle pulley a little and see if the turbo spins at all. *Do not put your hand next to the inlet or anything stupid like that, visual only*
2.) Verify your wastegate is closed at idle. You can test this by simply checking with your hand for exhaust coming out of the dumptube when the engine is idling. There should be nothing coming out of the dump. A lot of newbs forget to install the fire ring or even the spring could have been removed. Both would cause exhaust to vent pre turbo and result in no boost.
3.) Check for boost looks. First inspect every coupler on the charge pipe. Look for cracks or anything obvious. If you are using worm gear style clamps then they may have been over tightened and can chew into the couple causing it to tear. Inversely they may not be tight enough, use best judgment here. You can test for leaks a number of ways (smoke test, starter fluid test, pressure test). The pressure test is the most definitive where you cap the turbo inlet with something like a PVC pipe end cap from home depot then drill and tap it with an air hose fitting. Pressurize the entire intake system with an air compressor and see if it holds air or listen to where it leaks. Sometimes cheap blow off valves leak as well.
