OK, after some trial and error, i think there's a incompatibility issue: go1.13.1 can be built with go1.4-bootstrap-20170531, but not with go1.4 (which has go1.4.3 patches on my system).
go1.12.10 builds with go1.4.  Here's the output for reference: (i've delimited the various attempts with '#############################')

#################################################
% cat $home/go1.4/VERSION
go1.4%
% cat $home/goroot/VERSION
go1.4-bootstrap-20170531
% ###############################################
% GOROOT_BOOTSTRAP=$home/go1.4 ./make.rc
Building Go cmd/dist using /usr/fst/go1.4
Building Go toolchain1 using /usr/fst/go1.4.
Building Go bootstrap cmd/go (go_bootstrap) using Go toolchain1.
Building Go toolchain2 using go_bootstrap and Go toolchain1.
# cmd/compile/internal/ssa
runtime: garbage collector found invalid heap pointer *(0x9de400+0x2e8)=0x30b59000 s=nil
fatal error: invalid heap pointer

runtime stack:
runtime.throw(0x987c63)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/panic.go:491 +0x83 fp=0xdfffd9a4 sp=0xdfffd98c
scanblock(0x9de400, 0xf7a0, 0x30b19868)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/mgc0.c:378 +0x48c fp=0xdfffda44 sp=0xdfffd9a4
markroot(0x10b22000, 0x1)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/mgc0.c:496 +0x138 fp=0xdfffda7c sp=0xdfffda44
runtime.parfordo(0x10b22000)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/parfor.c:76 +0x98 fp=0xdfffdad8 sp=0xdfffda7c
gc(0xdfffdc14)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/mgc0.c:1439 +0x1f9 fp=0xdfffdc04 sp=0xdfffdad8
runtime.gc_m()
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/mgc0.c:1368 +0xcd fp=0xdfffdc24 sp=0xdfffdc04
runtime.onM(0x10b24000)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/asm_386.s:266 +0x4f fp=0xdfffdc28 sp=0xdfffdc24
runtime.mstart()
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/proc.c:818 fp=0xdfffdc2c sp=0xdfffdc28

goroutine 79 [garbage collection]:
runtime.switchtoM()
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/asm_386.s:208 fp=0x29f9c940 sp=0x29f9c93c
runtime.gogc(0x0)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/malloc.go:469 +0x1a9 fp=0x29f9c960 sp=0x29f9c940
runtime.mallocgc(0x2c0, 0x67cc60, 0x0, 0x31a97170)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/malloc.go:341 +0x2c3 fp=0x29f9c9b8 sp=0x29f9c960
runtime.newarray(0x67cc60, 0xa6, 0x31a97170)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/malloc.go:365 +0xb4 fp=0x29f9c9d8 sp=0x29f9c9b8
runtime.makeslice(0x5c6a20, 0xa6, 0x0, 0xa6, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/slice.go:32 +0x164 fp=0x29f9ca08 sp=0x29f9c9d8
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/ssa.(*regAllocState).init(0x31a400d0, 0x31a4a370)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/ssa/regalloc.go:661 +0x8fe fp=0x29f9cb60 sp=0x29f9ca08
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/ssa.regalloc(0x31a4a370)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/ssa/regalloc.go:145 +0x3f fp=0x29f9cb70 sp=0x29f9cb60
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/ssa.Compile(0x31a4a370)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/ssa/compile.go:92 +0xf91 fp=0x29f9fe2c sp=0x29f9cb70
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.buildssa(0x11e3d200, 0x1, 0x0)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/ssa.go:289 +0xc75 fp=0x29f9ff34 sp=0x29f9fe2c
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.compileSSA(0x11e3d200, 0x1)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/pgen.go:298 +0x3c fp=0x29f9ffc8 sp=0x29f9ff34
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.func·027(0x1)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/pgen.go:363 +0x70 fp=0x29f9ffe8 sp=0x29f9ffc8
runtime.goexit()
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/asm_386.s:2287 +0x1 fp=0x29f9ffec sp=0x29f9ffe8
created by bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.compileFunctions
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/pgen.go:366 +0x157

goroutine 1 [runnable]:
runtime.gopark(0x28130, 0x1dc90cf0, 0x6bd698, 0x9)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/proc.go:130 +0xdd fp=0x10b29af4 sp=0x10b29adc
runtime.goparkunlock(0x1dc90cf0, 0x6bd698, 0x9)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/proc.go:136 +0x41 fp=0x10b29b08 sp=0x10b29af4
runtime.chansend(0x5cbbe0, 0x1dc90cc0, 0x10b29bb4, 0x11231b01, 0xdd81a, 0x1)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/chan.go:213 +0x68e fp=0x10b29b64 sp=0x10b29b08
runtime.chansend1(0x5cbbe0, 0x1dc90cc0, 0x10b29bb4)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/chan.go:68 +0x38 fp=0x10b29b80 sp=0x10b29b64
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.compileFunctions()
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/pgen.go:369 +0x1ca fp=0x10b29bd0 sp=0x10b29b80
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.Main(0x7c9420)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/main.go:695 +0x316a fp=0x10b29f74 sp=0x10b29bd0
main.main()
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/main.go:51 +0x157 fp=0x10b29fcc sp=0x10b29f74
runtime.main()
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/proc.go:63 +0xcb fp=0x10b29ff0 sp=0x10b29fcc
runtime.goexit()
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/asm_386.s:2287 +0x1 fp=0x10b29ff4 sp=0x10b29ff0

goroutine 2 [force gc (idle), 2 minutes]:
runtime.gopark(0x28130, 0x9ded98, 0x6d6a38, 0xf)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/proc.go:130 +0xdd fp=0x10b2afcc sp=0x10b2afb4
runtime.goparkunlock(0x9ded98, 0x6d6a38, 0xf)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/proc.go:136 +0x41 fp=0x10b2afe0 sp=0x10b2afcc
runtime.forcegchelper()
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/proc.go:99 +0xa2 fp=0x10b2aff0 sp=0x10b2afe0
runtime.goexit()
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/asm_386.s:2287 +0x1 fp=0x10b2aff4 sp=0x10b2aff0
created by runtime.init·4
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/proc.go:87 +0x24

goroutine 3 [GC sweep wait]:
runtime.gopark(0x28130, 0x9ee0a4, 0x6cebb8, 0xd)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/proc.go:130 +0xdd fp=0x10b2cfcc sp=0x10b2cfb4
runtime.goparkunlock(0x9ee0a4, 0x6cebb8, 0xd)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/proc.go:136 +0x41 fp=0x10b2cfe0 sp=0x10b2cfcc
runtime.bgsweep()
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/mgc0.go:98 +0x96 fp=0x10b2cff0 sp=0x10b2cfe0
runtime.goexit()
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/asm_386.s:2287 +0x1 fp=0x10b2cff4 sp=0x10b2cff0
created by gc
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/mgc0.c:1383

goroutine 4 [finalizer wait, 2 minutes]:
runtime.gopark(0x28130, 0x9ee0a0, 0x6d6658, 0xe)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/proc.go:130 +0xdd fp=0x10b2df98 sp=0x10b2df80
runtime.goparkunlock(0x9ee0a0, 0x6d6658, 0xe)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/proc.go:136 +0x41 fp=0x10b2dfac sp=0x10b2df98
runtime.runfinq()
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/malloc.go:727 +0x9b fp=0x10b2dff0 sp=0x10b2dfac
runtime.goexit()
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/asm_386.s:2287 +0x1 fp=0x10b2dff4 sp=0x10b2dff0
created by runtime.createfing
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/malloc.go:707 +0x58

goroutine 78 [runnable]:
runtime.newobject(0x674d80, 0x31a28000)
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/malloc.go:348 fp=0x1dcc7ab0 sp=0x1dcc7aac
bootstrap/cmd/internal/obj/x86.(*AsmBuf).doasm(0x1dcc7dc0, 0x10b56000, 0x1b986180, 0x10ba8630)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/internal/obj/x86/asm6.go:4773 +0x7f9 fp=0x1dcc7cf4 sp=0x1dcc7ab0
bootstrap/cmd/internal/obj/x86.(*AsmBuf).asmins(0x1dcc7dc0, 0x10b56000, 0x1b986180, 0x10ba8630)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/internal/obj/x86/asm6.go:5342 +0x365 fp=0x1dcc7d60 sp=0x1dcc7cf4
bootstrap/cmd/internal/obj/x86.span6(0x10b56000, 0x1b986180, 0x1d5bb2d0)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/internal/obj/x86/asm6.go:1977 +0x670 fp=0x1dcc7e74 sp=0x1dcc7d60
bootstrap/cmd/internal/obj.Flushplist(0x10b56000, 0x10fde140, 0x1d5bb2d0, 0xdfffdfd5, 0x18)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/internal/obj/plist.go:107 +0x2ca fp=0x1dcc7f08 sp=0x1dcc7e74
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.(*Progs).Flush(0x319bf5c0)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/gsubr.go:93 +0xef fp=0x1dcc7f34 sp=0x1dcc7f08
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.compileSSA(0x188a4a80, 0x0)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/pgen.go:323 +0x2f8 fp=0x1dcc7fc8 sp=0x1dcc7f34
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.func·027(0x0)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/pgen.go:363 +0x70 fp=0x1dcc7fe8 sp=0x1dcc7fc8
runtime.goexit()
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/asm_386.s:2287 +0x1 fp=0x1dcc7fec sp=0x1dcc7fe8
created by bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.compileFunctions
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/pgen.go:366 +0x157

goroutine 81 [runnable]:
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/ssa.(*desiredState).merge(0x319c6be0, 0x10d9e280)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/ssa/regalloc.go:2633 fp=0x20682724 sp=0x20682720
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/ssa.(*regAllocState).computeLive(0x3172bad0)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/ssa/regalloc.go:2436 +0x7aa fp=0x20682a08 sp=0x20682724
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/ssa.(*regAllocState).init(0x3172bad0, 0x318eb340)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/ssa/regalloc.go:674 +0xb62 fp=0x20682b60 sp=0x20682a08
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/ssa.regalloc(0x318eb340)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/ssa/regalloc.go:145 +0x3f fp=0x20682b70 sp=0x20682b60
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/ssa.Compile(0x318eb340)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/ssa/compile.go:92 +0xf91 fp=0x20685e2c sp=0x20682b70
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.buildssa(0x17c30b40, 0x3, 0x0)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/ssa.go:289 +0xc75 fp=0x20685f34 sp=0x20685e2c
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.compileSSA(0x17c30b40, 0x3)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/pgen.go:298 +0x3c fp=0x20685fc8 sp=0x20685f34
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.func·027(0x3)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/pgen.go:363 +0x70 fp=0x20685fe8 sp=0x20685fc8
runtime.goexit()
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/asm_386.s:2287 +0x1 fp=0x20685fec sp=0x20685fe8
created by bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.compileFunctions
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/pgen.go:366 +0x157

goroutine 80 [runnable]:
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/ssa.phielimValue(0x1bfdaae8, 0x4dee000)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/ssa/phielim.go:35 fp=0x24d16aac sp=0x24d16aa8
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/ssa.applyRewrite(0x31a4a000, 0x7c9394, 0x7c93d0)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/ssa/rewrite.go:37 +0x163 fp=0x24d16b60 sp=0x24d16aac
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/ssa.opt(0x31a4a000)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/ssa/opt.go:9 +0x39 fp=0x24d16b70 sp=0x24d16b60
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/ssa.Compile(0x31a4a000)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/ssa/compile.go:92 +0xf91 fp=0x24d19e2c sp=0x24d16b70
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.buildssa(0x15a7e300, 0x2, 0x0)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/ssa.go:289 +0xc75 fp=0x24d19f34 sp=0x24d19e2c
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.compileSSA(0x15a7e300, 0x2)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/pgen.go:298 +0x3c fp=0x24d19fc8 sp=0x24d19f34
bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.func·027(0x2)
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/pgen.go:363 +0x70 fp=0x24d19fe8 sp=0x24d19fc8
runtime.goexit()
/usr/fst/go1.4/src/runtime/asm_386.s:2287 +0x1 fp=0x24d19fec sp=0x24d19fe8
created by bootstrap/cmd/compile/internal/gc.compileFunctions
/usr/fst/go/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/pgen.go:366 +0x157
go tool dist: FAILED: /usr/fst/go/pkg/tool/plan9_386/go_bootstrap install -gcflags=all= -ldflags=all= -i cmd/asm cmd/cgo cmd/compile cmd/link: exit status: 'go_bootstrap 784953: 2'
% #####################################
% cat $home/goroot/VERSION
go1.4-bootstrap-20170531
% GOROOT_BOOTSTRAP=$home/goroot ./make.rc
Building Go cmd/dist using /usr/fst/goroot
Building Go toolchain1 using /usr/fst/goroot.
Building Go bootstrap cmd/go (go_bootstrap) using Go toolchain1.
Building Go toolchain2 using go_bootstrap and Go toolchain1.
Building Go toolchain3 using go_bootstrap and Go toolchain2.
Building packages and commands for plan9/386.
---
Installed Go for plan9/386 in /usr/fst/go
Installed commands in /usr/fst/go/bin
*** You need to bind /usr/fst/go/bin before /bin.
% ##########################################
% pwd
/usr/fst/go1.12.10/src
% ./clean.rc
% GOROOT_BOOTSTRAP=$home/go1.4 ./make.rc
Building Go cmd/dist using /usr/fst/go1.4
Building Go toolchain1 using /usr/fst/go1.4.
Building Go bootstrap cmd/go (go_bootstrap) using Go toolchain1.
Building Go toolchain2 using go_bootstrap and Go toolchain1.
Building Go toolchain3 using go_bootstrap and Go toolchain2.
Building packages and commands for plan9/386.

On Sun, Oct 6, 2019 at 4:11 AM Richard Miller <9fans@hamnavoe.com> wrote:
> go1.12.10 builds successfully but go1.13.1 fails. is it a known issue?

What platform?  The build system is testing plan9/386, plan9/arm and plan9/amd64
on every commit so build failures shouldn't be slipping through.  I've just
tested that release specifically on plan9/386 and it seems ok:

        ...
        ##### API check
        Go version is "go1.13.1", ignoring -next /usr/miller/go1.13/api/next.txt

        ALL TESTS PASSED

You might need to set GO_TEST_TIMEOUT_SCALE higher to avoid timeouts (it
defaults to 2 on arm, 4 on mips, 1 otherwise).