[DeTomaso] MANGUSTA ZF FLUID / Dick Ruzzin

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/11/09 9:08:57 AM, gaino at earthlink.net writes:

> I have a dash1 in 1362. It has a dipstick on the driver side. It also 
> drips a little at each output shaft. I just keep it full on the stick, and 
> refill it to that level when I change fluid. Is the dipstick unusual?
> 
There are two types of dipsticks and unless someone adds one (as I did), 
they are only on really early Panteras and most Mangustas. One stick enters 
the gearcase thru a drilling at the far-right back end, while the other enters 
thru a right-angle fitting in the 'normal' Pantera (Is that an appropriate 
word for DeTomasos?) fill plug location on the lower left. Since they are 
much different lengths, whether they measure the same liquid level is a 
question for Lloyd Butfoy (as are all previous posts on this subject IMHO). Your 
small leak(s) are likely only a bad seal which is easily changed once the box 
is out. The seal is a std size available everywhere but the side-plate 
gasket is not. Using a non-stock side plate gasket can change the preload on the 
tapered diff bearings, but with some care, the OEM gasket will be 
re-useable. FWIW- J Deryke