Marcos Maniacs

I'm currently rebuilding 1969 wood chassis Essex engine (bought off  
neil calder in dec. 2007). It's going well, and we've flown through  
the chassis and body rebuild in our few weekends' work.

However, we've hit a biggy:

The axle is replaced with a Mk 3 capri unit, on the advice of Mike  
Andrews, although this has now necessitated new wheels (offset to  
restore old track) new propshaft (shortened and with new diff flange)  
and has stumped us as to how to actuate the handbrake with the  
panhard rod in situ. The ford linkage sits exactly where the panhard  
rod wants to sit, and requires removal in order to fit.

Mike's solution is to replace with original (corsair) brake  
backplates and just extend the original marcos linkageto the wider  
axle, although this would necessitate extracting the halfshafts off  
both axles, and junking the already-rebuilt brakes from the Mk 3 axle  
and rebuilding the corsair axle brakes (undesirable).

SO:

I know some mantulas use the Mk 3 axle, and presumably have an axle  
located by panhard rod. How are their handbrakes actuated? How does  
anyone else actuate a Mk 3 handbrake on a marcos?

All hints/answers GREATLY appreciated: I've got a few ideas, but I  
don't like 'em.

Tom

PS: Has anyone else fitted replacement sills from Rory? Anyone else  
find they don't fit??