Did Ford change the tapers in the uprights from Mk3 to later Cortinas?
My uprights came from an old MK3 scrapper, can't remember the reg
My original metric Escort Mk2 TREs won't lock in the bottom taper, and the transit rod ends at the top don't go through far enough for split pins to match teh supplied castle nuts, and nylocks aren't in 'safety' either.

I've just been boning everything up for SVA and realise that I've got problems.
Any suggestions?

Hope this doesn't come across as taking the mick but you are putting them in the right way?

(1) Escort Mk2 track rods ends are identical to Cortina Mks 3 to 5 track rod ends -- same part number QR1384 note this is not the same as the Mk1 Escorts or the Mk2 RS models


(2) The bottom ball joint used can be either Maxi or Cortina Mk3 to Mk5 depending on wishbone design used.

(3) The Top ball joints are early Transit Drag link ends (right hand thread) QH (Quinton Hazel) Part Number QD1117RH not Transit Track rod ends

They should go in the steering arm not the bottom swivel. Some genuine drag link couplings are too short for the top balljoint and need the top of the upright machining as per We$tfield or fit a nyloc nut instead of the split pin