"While the deck was flat - and this block was machined at a very reputable shop in the 80's the machinery of today has brought inconsistencies like this to the forefront of modern engine building."
heck, i was at a reputable shop last year while they were decking a block - all they did was follow the existing deck surface and "cleaned 'er up"......after my brother put the block in a Rottler, neither decks weren't parallel to crank, along with different deck heights! the mentality of some machinists just makes me shake my head.......