Looking good as always Marty, the colour is growing on me, been seeing a similar hue on some modern cars and I'll be interested to see how it turns out on an Escort when its all trimmed up.
 
I think this is what he's talking about Mark, it's the garnish that goes on the sills.
 
 
 
Hard to find a good set, was never into the Mk1's but a good mate that was had us all looking for a decent set for his car. 
Haha, 30 odd years later I still keep an eye out for them and whilst his car is long gone if I found a set I'd probably buy them and post them to him for old times sake
I like the idea for a red stripe, should look smart against the body colour.

Hi Mark the stainless should usually came on 1300xl models which had the chrome around the side windows and the rear chrome along the boot edge of which the back panel was usually black , anyways this is the trims..

As you can see the black 3/4" black stripe as factory on just about all trims, mine has the red stripe, and I did think someone had painted it but was factory with primer and no evidence of black at all


What? You put Nissan patrol springs in your Escort? That would be so stiff !
I remember when young I pulled the rear springs from a TC Cortina wagon and installed in the Escort, the car didn't even sag from the jack, so I removed and cut in half then refitted again, the height was good but still way stiff I heard spotwelds popping. Lesson learnt there is not to use wagon back springs again!!

Thanks drewdog, yeah I've seen a very close colour on a Hyundai Iconic and the current RAV 4 toaster edition. ha we must posted at the same time, pretty rare !

Okay that now makes sense to me, thanks guys. Always hard to figure out what was factory after so much time has passed. Especially with locally constructed vehicles (Ford & Holden) where it was whatever flavour of the day was available?
 
Haha Marty, the springs were in the Patrol I put an LS2 into. Could you imagine the understeer on an Escort.

It was real cold today, double jumper n beanie Weather, anyway I got to taping up the grill to paint silver in the horizontal bars which is how factory did them

While that was getting done I had the sill plates/garnish in what was a very weak sunlight to warm up. Using the mini spray gun to lay red or mistint tangerine scream from the BA Falcon but is more red than orange tho the colour will settle as it cures

And the grill after silver and clear to attempt to look alloy, it's a little darker but looks fine on the car

And these are the sill plates with the red stripe

Here's a mod that'll be worthwhile for most escorts and Capri. After I spent days looking and cross reference a specific common part .
I have discovered that Toyota RAV4 strut roller bearing strut tops are virtually direct bolt in once the wing mounting holes are enlarged as Escort are 5/16" thread or later went M8. The RAV4 are 10mm so there's plenty to drill, tho I might just knock them out and swap for M8 and weld in place .
Here's a few pics of the bearing tops and mirrored on the escort one as well as on the car, when looking from underneath half the bolt is visible in each hole, I measured between bolts at 113mm, Escort is 110mm , anyway take a look

I can picture 2 old dudes at the next Adelaide Ford Day arguing if an Executive should have red stripe sill covers.
You will lose points for the split fold rears, and probably be banned for Rav4 inclusions.
 
Yes for the red stripe from me too.
 
I missed  the telling of old spring stories, (damn computer upgrade), but did think I was clever at the time (about 20 yo) fitting an extra leaf spring from an Escort Panelvan into the rear of the Capri, so it didnt look like it was dragging its bum around.
 
Great progress.

Some more work on the strut tops this morning, I pretty much just drilled the holes to 10.5 to 11mm and with some slight ovaling the RAV4 tops went straight in.


So with that simple fix done I decided to bolt up the grill to have a good look at the progress achieved


Finally bought inserts which are made for a Celica 93 model, bought from USA mega auto parts store called RockAuto, kyb inserts were about $40ea due to being a close out sale till new stock arrives, plus $42 post for 5 day delivery.

Haha Deano, maybe I should put a GTI badge on the boot !

Thats a great mod with the rav 4 strut tops, you think it will affect the final ride height any? It would be good if it actually sat lower because of it.

Thanks Mark , according to fake AI they are going to raise the spension about 1in, whoever, I'm using Capri struts and also according to AI will lower the height about 20mm. So basically it's try and see how it sits. I will be lowering the spring platform accordingly and not to set it low enough it's going to rub the tyre .
One other brilliant find I have found that Peugeot 206 disk rotors are virtually identical to Escort/Capri 2.8 venteds , ok the centre hole is a little smaller by 2mm and the hub holes will need drilling, both easy to do.
Here's the link for the super cheap rotors...
https://ebay.us/m/SgZFmu

Peugeot 207 are identical except are about 280mm, they also do 310mm for the GTI model, a good upgrade if running 15in wheels or bigger .....

I'm either going to be running Volvo 4 pot calipers or find a set of modern sliders that'll fit, and when I say fit, I'll be doing adaptions cause nothing really will bolt straight up