Its always fun testing the brakes - everyone should do it, under all conditions. That way you know what to expect if you ever need to do it again. Just make sure there's nobody about and that there is enough space, you never know what might happen. Sounds good if yours braked in a nice straight line - mine would always get a bit unsettled, I think due to differences in breaking forces at the rear.

I've also bought a MEF rear kit, to try to tighten up the rear and get perfect geometry, which could also be a factor in unsettling the car under heavy braking.

You soon get used to the extra travel, so if your happy I'd stick with what you have. I'm only doing my new lines because the car is also getting the MEF kit, a ZVH, and coilovers at the same time - so it was a good opportunity to take it off the road, and do everything at once (including the rust )

Basically want to do what you've done to yours, but I do know there will be some major rust underneath the rear seat so I'm dreading it. Half of me wants to just check the bits in and leave the rust sprreading, then one day get a Mk1 Orion to restore properly with the good parts - the other has an attachment to this car from all the hours driving and situations it has got me out of, and wants to keep it going for another 15 years at least.

It must be a Ford thing - it seems there's enough of us in the same boat