I've kept with the F20C.
I will be cutting the sump, doing it similar but slightly different to those before.

The few which have done it this way before have cut the sump, then dropped the standard crossmember/steering rack down by about 30-40mm with spacers from the chassis rail.
 
Im not a fan of dropping it down this far, so I'm going to get a lowered rack crossmember from the UK. And space down about 10mm max hopefully. With the lowered rack ill need to also use cranked steering arms and/or spacers to correct the steering angle back to normal (to prevent bump steer).

I have a spare sump there to if I stuff it up. But haven't had a real decent chance to get in and do it in the last 6 months.
 
Stick with the F20C mate. I think out of all of the conversions it lends itself to an escort so well. Good high rev power, doesn't have tonnes of torque which can destroy gearboxes, diffs etc. And not too much for such a light shell.
 
And if you end up putting Individual Throttle Bodies.. surely theres no better sound than VTEC at 9000rpm going through ITB's!