Need to replace rings when replacing bearings?

I’m trying to slap together a motor for our Lemons Civic for the the Atlanta race in 2 weeks.  Pulling apart the best bottom end that I have shows that the bearings should be replaced. I was going to just pull the crank and leave the pistons in place as the cylinder liners look OK and the engine ran fine when pulled.  I am going to be stressing this motor a bit, endurance racing with an 8 psi junkyard turbo.  Last motor cracked rings from too tight a gap, non stock pistons.  This bottom end is going to be stock, I’m out of time and cheap used parts to do otherwise.  

At at what point should the rings be replaced? If the pistons rotate a bit in the bores as they are loose from the crank? Only if they come out? Only if they are removed?  I’m this far into the motor but pressed for time and machine shop availability. 

Do you know if the motor had good compression before you tore into it? 

Yup, when I pulled it from a running, driving car 3 years ago.  I don't remember the numbers but I wasn't worried about them. 

If the rings are OK, it makes no difference if you take them out and put them back, they'll still be OK.  Just make sure they stay on the same pistons and locations they started in.  

I would consider measuring the ring gap.  Running a turbo on an originally NA motor tends to put extra heat into the rings, particularly the top rings, and closes the gap.  I'd open them to at least the max tolerance.  You'll get a bit more blow-by but the pistons will survive better.  When the gap closes up the top ring tries to rip out of the piston, breaking the top ring land off.

^ What he said! 

Take the pistons out, open the ring gaps, and put them right back in. 

Perfect, that’s what I was hoping to hear.  New bearings are now on order and will be here this weekend but in the meantime I can widen the ring gaps a bit, prep the block, etc.   Thanks!

Gasket set is cheap vs being sidelined hunting for a motor to swap on a thrash.  Last I checked Lemons racing, while a crapcan series still costs some coin to play.