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It's completely normal. Subaru issued TSB's to ignore the cracks unless they extend into the exhaust port and leak coolant. Back in the day I did head gaskets on dozens of EA82's and I don't remember seeing any that didn't have cracks between the valves to one extent or another. Never caused a problem. GD

Well... I Was Thinking that Usually in our Pictures, only Appears our Subies and other Things... But Not Us, the Ones Behind the Wheel! So Lets Share some Pics of Us! Kind Regards.

Does the steering wheel wiggle varying with rolling speed?

Unbolt and drop the exhaust manifold down and make sure there’s no signs of coolant leaks into the exhaust. This is what happens if the cracks are bad and extend into the exhaust. But this isn’t likely on nonturbo engines which weren’t abused or had ignored overheating. Normally, replace headgaskets and move along. I’ve seen countless dozens of cracks, I’m sure it happens but I’ve never seen a non-turbo EA or ER head crack all the way through. Nah, EA82s and ER27s crack and are benign, not EJs.

A small crack between the intake and exhaust valves is normal. Nearly all of them have it. All of mine have it. There was a service bullitin about it years ago.

Maybe the rubber is shot. The outer ring is mounted on the center part with rubber. Or, the bolt was not torqued tight enough and the pully is spinning on the crankshaft. The crank has a key and the pully has a slot to keep it from turning. I have had the bolt loosen up and the key will wear out the inside of the pully. The key only goes into the pully about a quarter inch. A friend made me a tool to hold the pully while torqueing it.

1) replace head gaskets and have the heads shaved - before you toast that engine good and proper 2) drop an EJ conversion in 3) drive till it pops good a proper. Junk it and buy a newer Subaru. I vote option 2. Cheers Bennie

As far as I remember, it just wires in. Power, maybe a signal to the fuel pump shutdown? It still has electronic points. No ECU.

I said "most". I see you're speaking from an Australian point of view, and I don't know ~any~ female in the U.S. who drives a manual shift. Not that I know thousands of females but I know a considerable amount. Other than vintage car fanciers most females, even males, under the age of 45 have never encountered a manual shift.