My dad was a mechanic, he did his apprenticeship with BHP fitting, machining etc.
Some words always ring true. I remember him saying the cost of retooling meant that manufacturers would squeeze the life out of everything. Engine blocks, many castings etc
Just look at most Ford and Chev blocks!
So it is not surprising that the bellhousing bolt pattern remained. Not working in the field like yourself Marty I have no idea of current compatibilities of components.

Sorry about the delay guys, springs a busy time for me at work.
Marty got the Escort window one, the Ghia's came with green tinted glass as did cars with factory A/C.
I think it may have been an optional extra on other models.
They are identified by a 'Tinted'  under the safety glass stamp.

 
Interesting info on the bellhousing, that engine would make a nice conversion for lower capacity motorsport classes.
 
 

Wow, 2080, that's years away haha long use by date !!

Yeah I been looking at one of those Ecoboost 1ltr turbo units for a long time , they're slowly getting cheap enough to really think about sticking into a Escort or Anglia for mega cheap fun... Just keep the 4 speeder as the motors can rev to ever lol

More Trivia time..

Inside the boot on the floor of all Escorts there's dimples placed in the ribs and a big dimple on the sides towards the back panel . I have pics of mine with the X marks the spot shown from the underside and how the floor looks from inside. I know what they're for but want others to see if they know. Again I have plans for these on my resto blog.

So what are they for ?
Underneath pic


Inside boot pic


Let's see who knows, and no cheating 🤣

martymexico
More Trivia time..

Inside the boot on the floor of all Escorts there's dimples placed in the ribs and a big dimple on the sides towards the back panel . I have pics of mine with the X marks the spot shown from the underside and how the floor looks from inside. I know what they're for but want others to see if they know. Again I have plans for these on my resto blog.

So what are they for ?
Underneath pic


Inside boot pic


Let's see who knows, and no cheating 🤣

 Could they be for "locating" the panels accurately while being set up before welding at the factory ?

Back in the early seventies I used to own an escort twincam. There were four bolts fitted thru the boot floor which held on an angled steel pressing which was designed to be a deflector to protect the panel under the rear bumper. an early skid plate as it were.
Of course I didnt know about the dimples then but have noticed them on my current mk1 escort super.
My question is, when they designed the pressing for the boot floor, how did they know that they would be fitting a deflector there for the twincam?

Ron you are spot on there, it is for the stone deflector on the up spec models designed for rallying to stop dredging gravel in behind the back panel .
As for when the first model was being brewed up in 67/68 I'd guess the boot floors would be not stamped until it was required a few months in.. but was left there to the end of the mk2 !!

Wow thats a good one Marty, just had a look under the boot matt of my 1980 Mk2 and there they are!

I would like to know why Ford put 12" wheels on the mk1 escort when earlier Fords like prefect and Anglia etc all ran on 13" , but later escort went 13" also, what was they thinking going to 12" ??

martymexico
I would like to know why Ford put 12" wheels on the mk1 escort when earlier Fords like prefect and Anglia etc all ran on 13" , but later escort went 13" also, what was they thinking going to 12" ??

My guess is they fitted 12" to 1/ allow the underpowered 1100 and 1300 engines to effect a better "launch" with 2/ the benefit of cheaper tyres/wheels "deal"  they may have struck with local Dunlop and Goodyear and ROH Wheels and 3/ lower centre of gravity ????  !!!!