Zep - the wonder fluid

 I am fairly sure that ZEP engine degreaser is a gallon of soapy water.

The ingredients say it has some chelating agent that binds metals to it and drags them into solution (I think other forms of EDTAs are using as anti-coagulants in medicine). Whatever it is - it works. And smells nice. Of all the degreasers I found at home depot - it was the cheapest.

Step 1 - drop a piston is a small plastic tub that used to hold diswasher tabs with enough ZEP to cover the rings

Step 2 - come back tomorrow

Step 3 - wrap connecting rod in some carboard and cinch it up in a bench vise

Step 4 - break off any piston ring pieces that are easy to grab with your fingers (do this so that the snapping action is pointed away from your face)

Step 5 - tappity tap tap with a screw driver + hammer on the grimey stuck ring parts that are left until they fly out (see note on pointing the action away from your face).

2 minutes of set up and 5 minutes of tapping and the job is done. Should take me 7 more days to do the rest.