It was an absolutely cracking day today, so after I took the dogs for a wander I had a crack at making a heavy duty clutch fork. Happy with how it came out, just need to clean it up so more and give it a paint now.

 
 
I'm getting more comfortable with welding too, these are probably the best welds I've laid down to date. Still got a ways to go but happy to see improvements.
 

I now own potentially Australia's first convertible MK2 RS2000!  Was picking up some stuff from the panel shop so took some snaps of the progress. The roof is off pending the new one arriving - still waiting for it to be posted. 
 
You can also see in this shot where they're mocking up to fit the parcel shelf inserts were younger me made a mess of it. Things are coming along nicely and as far as the bones of the car is concerned things are mostly ok.
 

 
You can see in this shot where they will need to excavate a bunch of bog where the car got hit in the right hand rear. I was about 6 at the time and the car got rear ended by a 4WD that ran out of brakes, I was sitting in the back seat at the time too! There is a possibility that the RHR quarter is toast and will need a donor/replacement. We will know more when they get all the crud off. I counted 6 distinct layers of paint too!
 

 
There was a rust repair done back in the day on the LHR quarter at the drain channel and this is what they dug out of it . I saved these bits and gave them to my old man!
 

 
The left side of the car is pretty close to being good to go, I don't think there is anything major left unless they find stuff when they strip the paint off. 
 
 
 
 
Will hopefully have more to show over the coming weeks, I have some stuff to get on with here, next job is to strip down the leaf springs, fuel tank and cross member once I have that and send them for powder coating.  
 
 

Great progress there.

The gearbox came up mint.

When you see a car without a roof, it's when you realise how little structure there is around you.

Shaun

Says your keeping the original hole in the tunnel ? As it was only Australia that didn't use the mk3+ Cortina gearbox in the RS which the stick sits 3 to 4 in further back . Personally I'd do the offset oblong cut around the stick hole and spin it around 180° reweld back in. If your about 6ft tall like me you'd be glad you did so you don't always reach for the stick. The console can be moved back about 30-40mm without looking out of place and the leather cover doesn't get stretched if using a RJ or q/shift.

Radiator, look on my post, I used a Gemini(😞) rad but the less wider one but is an inch wider than Escort, another option is use a corona st124 rad, these are my go to conversion rads ever since I did the orange mk1 Mex zetec , it fits under the bonnet and just between the chassis.
I think my zetec van has the corona radiator .
Ok, they prolly will need one or both pipes moving depends on engine but a small price for a better radiator upgrade.
Just throwing up options for you there mate

Yeah Marty there is a mob in the UK that make new cast alloy tail housings with a shorter selector housing for the Type 9. Also there is a guy here in Melbourne that can shorten the existing one too. I prefer to go the new route though as it comes with a shortened selector rail too. 

https://hi-gearengineering.co.uk/  This mob - they don't list it on their website but they put the advert for them on Type 9 World Facebook page.
 
As for the slam panel / radiator there may be an ulterior motive for wanting the extra room up front. Not ready to share exactly why though . 

PartTimeMK2
As for the slam panel / radiator there may be an ulterior motive for wanting the extra room up front. Not ready to share exactly why though . 

Enough said..... I'll be waiting for that update

That would actually be hilarious. Ditch the fuel tank and fill the boot with batteries!

Smcka???