Nice pictures and there is always Bablefish for the writing!
Glad to hear there is progress, sooner or later the brute will learn manners!
Can you not fish out most of the grease and use diesel as a fluid? With your pressure device it should force it down the sides of the piston and help free things up a bit more. This is the one time when you hope the rings are stuck!
Also have you tried the cold treatment yet?
You are doing the right thing, the best tool you have with a job like this is endless patience.
