Thank you Jeff, Michael and Jason.
Jeff, your reply was most reassuring. Working in isolation it is easy to assume that 'the experts' will have much better ways of doing things. In my case, generally true but it sounds as though it wasn't too nonsensical. Jason's method looks absolutely superb, altghough in my defence, my original eccentric castings had the conn rods cast in which made holding in the 4 jaw essential and checking bore sizes fiddly and (ultimately) flawed!! Also the bores were about 3/8th" so not easy for 'fumble fingers'! By the way, Jeff, you were absolutely right on all three of your guesses as to the problems

Ah well, onwards and maybe upwards but possibly 'back to square one' .
Exit left, muttering "It's a hobby, it's a hobby … etc., etc,
Rgds
Bill