Thanks for the advice. I just brought in the bare head with loose valves for a super economy grind so I don't blame the shop. I could have had them pressure test it I suppose but didn't.
I talked to a good mechanic today who assured me that a lot of these type engines have the tiny cracks and usually they would be okay. It's hard to even find a core with no tiny cracks for some motors apparently.
Kind of reminds me of flatheads...