Deck height, What went wrong? Options

[DavidSweden]

I am rebuilding my 2.0 engine

This evening I installed #4 cylinder & piston (with new rings). I then tightened the cylinder down onto the case to measure the deck height.
The deck height came to 0.2mm which is 0.008". as I understand it the deck height should be about 1mm (0.04").
I have installed new crank bearings, the piston and cylinder are original, the shim under the cylinder is the same thickness as the original shim.

The deck height should be the same as before the rebuild shouldn't it? Anyhow the deck height seem very small.

Advice appreciated

[ChrisFoley]

The deck height minimum is to prevent the piston from ever hitting the cylinder head. The pistons rock in the bore and the rods stretch at high rpm.
A stock cam won't cause valves to hit pistons even with no deck height.

I say just get a set of barrel spacers that gives you the deck height you used to have and continue assembling.