The piston rings have gone on my car do i need to drop the crank to hone the bores or can i just cover it with something?

I once caught a dodgy landy garage vigorously honing away on a landy that was 'just sold' with the engine still in the car and the head just removed smoked like a chimney afterwards

Honing normally just removes the varnish and a tiny amount of metal so I'd not be overly concerned and would do as you say and just cover it well with rags

Honing beds the new rings into the cylinder wall, you should be alright to just wipe the crank after you've done the bores as you shouldn't be removing anything just score the glaze off.

Cheers as i thought, i was hoping to go to Stoneleigh but i can't get a set of rings, would you f****** believe it a poxy vauxhall engine and none of the local motorfactors can get me a set

Not Happy!

[Edited on [1240851605R0=053030p: by philw]

Motor factors don't tend to stock piston rings . Engine reconditioners may be your best bet.