Almost all OE VW heads have that crack.  I am pretty sure there is a spec
for acceptable cracks.  If I was worried about it I would take the heads to
a machine shop and have them pressure tested.  Have them check the crack to
see if it goes below the valve seat.  If the machine shop gives it the OK
then you can feel more confident.  The OE heads had a problem with cracking
by one of the head stud holes as well because of a thin casting.

I have reused OE heads myself a long time ago but they were all tested at a
machine shop.  Since those early days, I have started using new AMC heads
only and have had zero problems with them.  The machine shop cost used to
be reasonable, but as there are less and less of them the prices have gone
up.  Weigh your options and do what you can afford and live with.

Ken

On Sun, Oct 2, 2016, 6:32 PM Tyler Hardison <tyler@seraph-net.net> wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> I've been pulling my motor apart to do a light reconditioning and
> inspection. Yesterday I cleaned up the passenger side head and noticed
> this:
>
> https://imgur.com/gallery/SI3Oh
>
> Is this the dreaded valve seat crack? And if so, does anyone have a pair of
> good 1.9 heads they can part with on the cheap?
>
> --Tyler
>
> 85 westfalia weekender
>