Help - Engine in Bits Disaster Strikes

[Pickles]

I have just removed the cylinder head, pistons and liners from one side of my engine 2.1 DJ as I need to replace a broken piston ring.
Honed out liner replaced piston and rings no problem. Put liner and piston back on,
appears theres a problem Piston won't go up and down in the liner when connected to the rod. Strip down again to investigate.
Disaster after measuring up both sides of the rod in the spigot it appears the rod is bent.
This could have been caused in two ways
1. When the ring broke which may have been overheating of the engine
piston nipped up. or
2. When I was withdrawing the wrist pin (I think it was this)
as no 3 was very stiff I inserted a threaded rod through the water pump hole and through the wrist pin I then put a nut on the other end.
I then wound the wrist pin out. As the liner was off it pulled the piston and liner over I then gentley tapped the piston back and proceeded slowly
I never dreamt I could bend a rod.

Problem what do I do know
1. Try and bend rod back using reverse procedure.
2. Try and remove the rod with the case intact and one side complete heads on.
3. Strip everything down (don't want to do, as I was only replacing a ring)

How much would a garage(simon) have charged to replace a ring on a wasser motor. So I can tell the wife how much I have saved.

[skell]

1. Try and bend rod back using reverse procedure.

don't think you could tell if you've got it straight, bending back could weaken rod or big end bearing, weakened rod = ouch!,

2. Try and remove the rod with the case intact and one side complete heads on.

sounds like a recipe for dropping something into the crankcase

3. Strip everything down (don't want to do, as I was only replacing a ring)

that'll do it

but I'm no expert, just offering some thoughts...