Cylinder Block Distortion

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Nissan Maxima. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Using a scraper, remove any old gasket material on the cylinder block surface, and remove any oil, scale, carbon, or other contamination.
CAUTION: Be careful not to allow gasket flakes to enter the oil or coolant passages.
Measure the distortion on the block upper face at different points in six directions.
1. Distortion limit: 0.10 mm (0.0039 in)
If out of specification, resurface the cylinder block. The allowable amount of resurfacing is dependent on the amount of any cylinder head resurfacing. The resurfacing limit is [amount of cylinder head resurfacing] + [amount of cylinder head resurfacing] = 0.2 mm (0.008 in).

Fig 1: Measuring Cylinder Block Distortion
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
1. Cylinder block height: 214.95 - 215.05 mm (8.4626 - 8.4665 in)