The rings go in grooves in the pistons and seal between piston and cylinder wall. Now exactly what part of disconnecting pistons from crank to get them out of the cylinder so rings can be replaced does your friend not understand? This isn't somethin unique to these motors either. The head will have to come off, the oil pan will have to come off and then you CAN get them out without pulling block from car but to maintenance things in the very center of an engine = major work whether the block comes out or not IMO. No short cut for ring replacement.