After a few full on days it is pretty much read to go.
 
After we got the front alignment nearly right I went to bleed the front brakes.  The top bleeder outlet on both caliper was blocked up solid so i borrowed a compressor (I really really want one now) to blow it through but that didn't work either so i had to remove both calipers and using a drill bit and some pliers to screw down into the crud and once a hole was made use the compressor to blow all the crap out.  Worked a charm.
 
So i bled the brakes today and then painted the extractors and rerouted the heater pipes under the exhaust to make it look a little neater.
 
I just need to do up the top nuts on the shocks and raise the ride height a little (it's too low to get off the jack) and then get a proper wheel alignment.
 
Big thanks to GDub & Mish for their help in helping me out when needed.
 
Here's a few pics of the engine bay now the exhaust is painted and hoses rerouted.
 
Cheers,
 
Matt 
 

Hey Matt, is yours the small or large hole for the struts?

Small hole but I'm using large hole strut tops.

Just drilled new holes.

Cheers

Matt

not sure how you will go about getting it any higher, remember the struts are maxed out as high as they can go shock travel wise. i reckon you but a new jack, that one you had looked dangerous at best.
welcome to the life of low escorts, make some small wood ramps, its the best way to get it high enough for a jack

looking sharp!  Is that hammerite finish on the rocker cover? Professional finish, or home job?

Mish, crap I forgot about that.  Yeah, the jack is about 17 years old so I probably need a new (lower) one.   Add it to the list of stuff I want!  Wooden blocks seem a good idea.
 
I measured from the centre of the wheel bearing to the top of the guard and it's about 280mm. 
 
Nick, I painted the rocker cover in VHT "Wrinkle Paint" and set it off in the oven.  Wife was not happy when we couldn't use the oven for a week.  Not recommended to do this.  Worked a treat though and forgiveness is easier than permission.
 
Cheers,
 
Matt
 

only way i can see you being able to get anymore height out of this is by fitting some spacers to the strut tops to lower the whole reassembly down, or find a std set of struts. 

We'll just see how it goes for now and worry about it later.

Matt

hahahaha, get the rear sorted and you will want the front lower and then its a never ending cycle.

Yep. Never ends.