dgo

Have you tried the MK1 Cortina club: https://mk1cortina.club/

How about using a stepped drill bit? I've seen those up to a couple of inches in diameter.

Rally Design used to sell a range of spring strengths and lengths. Might be worth giving them a call to see if that can still get those

Sorry just seen this and happy you've persevered and succeeded. Usually a soak in hot water first helps especially if where you are working is chilly.

Not the one I was looking for but there's a thread here that might be of interest: https://www.buysellcortina.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/77113-mk345-coil-spring-compressor-tool/

If you're handy with a welder you can make the tool that runs up the middle of the spring. You need some sheet, a big threaded bar and strong nut for that. There's a diagram somewhere I'll see whether I can find it. I have one but unfortunately I'm not able to get up to my garage for a while (sorry).

I'm sure somewhere I recall a thread about the front cradle causing this. Hopefully someone like @sheffieldcortinacentre will pop by later with a more informed view than mine

A photo might be useful 😄

I was thinking similar and while @sheffieldcortinacentre is probably right about the ratchet mechanism. I was wondering whether you'd checked inside the drums that there are no fluid leaks, the ratchet mechanisms are all clean and the brake shoes are OK. Sometimes by replacing worn shoes with new ones means the ratchet will be in a different place and starts working again. Just a thought. Probably as @sheffieldcortinacentre says though it's worth starting the search for a set of 9" brakes

Agreed. Pop the pistons out of the brake cylinder and check the fluid flows.

White line used to sell uprated rear ARBs. Not sure whether they still do

Craig question - If what I see from the photo of the front chassis/Cortina cradle on that Eagle wouldn't it (in theory) be possible to space out the top of the cradle? That way moving the upper arms outwards offsetting the negative camber effect of the lowering? I seem to remember somewhere in the vague depths of my mind a similar issue when swapping cradles between different marks of Cortina (later versions into prefacelift Mk3 or something like that??) or am I really going mad in my old age! If that might work perhaps @Daveyboy20 could take a photo and explain exactly how the upper part of the cradle is attached to those big square chassis rails What do you think?

Again not local to you but I've used Unit Exchange (Link) for my MK4 in the past. If I recall they can exchange by post if that helps

There's an article on how to adapt a Type 9 gear lever here: Link

QH list QFP88 as the pinto pump: Link which can be had from a number of places. Think their quality is still OK