I recently blew my old box up and have since purchased a replacement which cost me over £400 from AceGearBoxes. I have attempted fitment today and got stuck straight away - The release shaft didn't go in without a fight, and then the release bearing doesn't sit in situ as it should.

Im kinda guessing here that the company have built me a new box for a different model escort???

Heres some pics to try to help describe the problem(s):

Pic of one-peice release fork/shaft in its rightful spot...


Pic showing new bearing and shaft not connecting right...


I first thought it was because the new bearing was wrong... so I put in the old original bearing from the old box/clutch...

Pic showing old bearing and shaft not connecting right...


Then i thought it was because the shaft was damaged or something....

Pic showing bearing on release fork(s):


Everything seems ok with the both bearings on the fork(s), so surely the box is wrong?

My ERST was first manufactured in '88 and Fords changed the boxes in '87. The stamp on the new box reads '87 so could this be the reason?

I am contacting the company tomorrow (closed today!) but i thought i'd run it passed you guys to see whether you knew what was up while i wait to contact them.