she looks great Drew, congrats.
I wouldn't be too stressed about not having it polished up yet.
I read a little too late that paints need time to vent the solvent out as they harden or cure, before you cut and polish which seals the surface. I'm guessing that jobs done in a booth and oven  might fasten this process up, but I'd still try to be patient before polishing.
The color suits the car nicely.
 

Looking good Drew, yeah give it a few weeks before cut n buffing...I still haven't done my van and it was painted over a year ago lol

Didnt think i was going to like the goldy colour but I do
Kind of suits the car. 

Thanks for the positive comments guys. Probably a good thing the paint needs a bit more time and work. Stops me going at it like a bull in a china shop and making mistakes. Going to sit on it for a couple of weeks and get a plan together.
Cheers Drew

Started on the boot fit out. I'm using the KBS urethane again after success on the Escort. Should've learned though, don't get it on yourself, a week later and I'm still wearing bits of it on my arms
Fuel tank went back in with a new rubber gasket from the sheet left over from, again, the Escort.
Made a backing board with a bit of cardboard template then coated mdf. Finished off the mount for the battery isolator with a remote cord within reach under the dash.
The boot matt is an original style from the Cortina club in the UK, it took a little trimming but looks a treat.
I need to get some battery cables cut and I've got a steel wheel to use as a spare so that'll be going in for powder coating with the diff and that should just about finish the boot area.
Cheers Drew

I should have thought to do that with mine, mind you mine is a very heavy spring loaded one that we used on mine 4WD vehicles, might not have worked with a cable pull!  Len

The rear end is back in and just about done now, getting some brake lines made up and a handbrake cable is on its way from the UK. It was a pleasure to reassemble, everythings either new, replated or powdercoated. I don't think it came from Ford looking like this shiny.
Also had a lot of zinc plating done, this guy does amazing work, cheap too. 120 pieces, nuts, bolts door strikers, latches etc for $120. I spent a morning nylon brushing then buffing them all beforehand but at that price it was no hardship.
I've turned it around in the garage and started on the front end now. Few hiccups there though.
The springs were SSL's and it sat lower than the rear without an engine so I've ordered some standard height items.
Then the steering box was identified as a MK2 with the longer idler arm, it'd bind up to a point and then let go. How it was previously driven I don't know. I thought I could just swap the arm out but the spines are a different size so after much searching I have a MK1 unit on its way.
It wasn't all bad though, on stripping the struts for powdercoating it has some brand name inserts, adjustable top mounts and all the bushes look near new and usable.
Cheers Drew


 

Its been a while but I'm back into the Cortina.
Life got in the way, I was helping my nephew out with his karting when I noticed the motorkhana titles being run behind the kart track. It sparked my interest and then this happened...

 
I picked up a retired rally car to have a go. Its actually quite a piece of kit with a lot of local history including a couple of rally Australia's. Quick run down, Charade GTti, 750kg, 993cc on 12 psi with a close ratio box. We've named it Little Angry Man, its a bit of an animal and staggering how rapid it is.
 
Anyway back to the Cortina, the painter had a stroke during the process and while theres no hard feelings it was becoming apparent that no amount of polishing was going to fix that turd. He's given me my money back on the labour so I'm only out of pocket for the materials, no biggie.
I stripped it back down again and sent it out to the guy that did my Escort.
Now that's better...


 
So its full steam ahead at the moment, I've run out of trim rivets so that final bit of chrome will be on soon, lol. Engine and box should be back in on Monday and the trimmer will be here soon to do the hood lining then the windows and interior will go back in.
Happy days!
 

Engine and box back in today

How good are those GTtis! A mates brother had one and it was one of the rortyest fastest little things I've been in. Hard to find one now too.
 
But the mk1 Corty is looking cracking! Loving seeing some more progress on it.