'90 Subaru EJ22 Engine, can remove piston without cracking case?

[PaoloPH]

Hi
I have '90 Subaru 2.2 engine in a '86 VW Vanagon.

The EJ22 has a bad #1 cylinder, I think it has a bad ring or rings. [Oil squirted in cylinder raises compression briefly]

I have plenty of room underneath to pull off the cylinder head, so I am considering removing it so I can check the cylinder walls for damage.

If I find damage, is it possible to remove one piston without cracking the case? I would do it by removing the ridge at the top of the cylinder bore, removing the oil pan, removing the connecting rod cap, and pushing it up from the bottom. I've done this on other engines [saving the necessity of having to remove the engine], but not sure if it's possible on a horizontally opposed engine like the Subaru EJ22.

Thanks for your help