Hi, I have the chance of a 94 wrx motor with the bottom end gone.. For peanuts!!
I fancy doing a rebuild on it in my spare time and eventually putting it in mine.

Im thinking forged rods and pistons with heavy duty bearings throughout.

Question is.. What kind of power is the o/e crank safe with?

 

The cranks are generally ok unless your running massive HP/Torque,as you mentioned it's the rods and bearings which normally fail first.
You are doing the right things internally to the engine plus you will need :
New Oil Pump with modded PRV(pressure relief valve).
New Modine - after a bottom end failure - you can never remove all the debris from inside the Modine.
Ensure the sump and Oil Gallery's in the block are free of Debris otherwise you will be doing your rebuild again very shortly.

Mick

 

Cheers mick