so back to work tomorrow, but things progressed a little:
-made a sump baffle (well 2 actually)

-cleaned and painted the block, fitted sump, new timing belt,water pump, distributor, and broke a spark plug for the first time

-then spent some quality time scraping black tar crap off the inside of the boot floor

- and after finding the release bearing I was sent is the wrong type, I thought I'd get onto the gearbox...
But broke the brittle plastic bearing shim thing on the gearlever:

and so needing a 'win'', I hit the engine bay with a rattle can of dulux gloss black (in my defence it's just a temporary clean up until it comes out again later, and the engine bay looked pretty poor to start with)

So regarding the gear lever,is the plastic cup replaceable, or is it worth the opportunity to change to a short throw shifter?

 a slightly better pic of the gearlever and offending bit

thanks for you suggestions
 

Harsh words big fella, but what I needed.
Ok, I will look for a quick shifter, and put it back together as is for now.
I need to get the car mobilish  (not on the road) as soon as possible just to make life easier, i'm sick of pushing it.
 

The engine came up a treat, nice work. Baffle looks good too...
Cheers Drew.

thanks Drew, you always find something nice to say on everyones projects.
 
Just a final question for a while, as I am not sure which way to go regarding the quickshift.
After looking at the usual UK suppliers for one, all of which say they are for çompetion use' or have notes  about how noisy they are, and that many people have removed them, combined with Whooligans  kind offer to make available a factory porridge stirrer, I've read enough to go full circle.
It's not a big decision in the scheme of things, but by the same token  id like to purchase right the first time if I can.
So if you have a 4 speed, do you have a quickshifter fitted, or have you removed one?
Are they really that noisy?
(ok that's 3 questions). thanks as always.

A mate of mine has a rose joint shifter. . He did complain it was loose but later found out it vibrates ,so i came up with a cunning plan...i packed it with high temp brg grease and then found an old steering rack boot and slid it over the stick , zip tied up and looks neat as a pin. I have one in my zetec mk1 Escort tho with a wcxm , nearly everything rattles, just live with it .
There is the mk2 RS2000 type quickshift kit which utilizes your stick but needs pulling apart to install the spacers. .i used to make these when I worked at Quickco motorsport and were very popular. I will fit one to the van I'm restoring.

I enjoy seeing everyone elses photo's, so a bit of an update in no particular order..

new waterpump,timing belt, reco'd webber, installed a quickhift, clutch plate was reground and slightly lightened.
Second rust repair, this time in the front radiator panel. Out with the old paint it black

the first bit of bling. It goes on backwards right??
nice clean sport dash, we have tacho and blinkers that now blink! (thanks Stewart!)
now time for some RS badges...
 
 
 
 

one RS badge isn't enough (plus some new gauges). I've got oil pressure now also.Chrome gear knob for those hot summer days when you park the car in the sun.
 

Actually 2 RS badges isn't enough either, so from Aldridge trimming..
(and for the trainspotters I learnt that's a Mk1 logo (they don't do a mk2)) but i'm not fussed
still one to sew on the passenger side