http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...ng+land&page=4
Most significantly, take a look at post #44 which explains that YT and OT both had failures on cyl 5. I also have an SVX that I believe has a failure on 5 that is n/a with 102k miles when I purchased it. It has piston slap bad enough that I have had 3 separate subaru people immediately think it was rod knock.
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...9&postcount=44
Also, I believe Phil is the only one who has pushed any true amounts of boost through an otherwise stock engine that hasn't blown up. Almost all others have run low boost and got out of the SVX as it aged before pushing any further. Most others have gone on with building the engine up first before anything else. This is why most of the projects have gone on a few years.
Bazza has a big turbo (big turbo means boost/heat comes on later when it can flow more air out) also has VERY aggressive cams with different valve/spring setup allowing the air to move. His car is a track car, he wants/needs his hp up high. For what you are wanting, you need to compare apples to apples. I believe you are wanting a good all around engine with plenty of torque, or I may be getting you confused for someone else?
Anyway, besides anything else, The pistons are absolutely the weak point on this engine. Plain and simple. I come off as an ass in almost all cases, but realize, what good is it if you go through all the work only to blow pistons apart? The rods are already forged, the pistons are not on this engine.