Posted for "Jim Nordin" <panelmaker@earthlink.net>:

 Lycoming doesn't sell or supply iron or steel rings. They only sell factory
 chrome rings for their iron sleeved cylinders. Any other combination is
 after market produced and not supported by Lycoming. So I think like Matt
 that the scenario of them swapping the rings to the wrong metal is indeed
 very unlikely. There are possibilities the wrong ring set was supplied. I
 know my O-235 C2C has the most expensive set of rings on the planet. Much
 more than other Lycoming ring sets ... so Lycoming tells me.
 
 Jim