"Stinking Spider" (Hot Gear Oil Smell)

[jason.glover@domain.elided]

Just finished re-installing my tranny after a rebuild and 
clutch job that took slightly over 2 years. Before I 
pulled the tranny there was a nice sludge of gear oil 
seeping down the passenger side of the tranny tunnel onto 
the floorboards. I assumed it was coming from the torn 
boots and seeping under the metal "helmet" thing on the 
tranny tunnel. The car smelled like hot gear oil before 
and it does still despite the fact that I removed the oil 
soaked sound deadening material and fiber matting material 
on the tranny tunnel and floorboards. I cleaned everything 
well with oil eater. The smell comes into my nostrils only 
when I stop, and since I have no top on right now I assume 
it could be comming from outside, but I can't be sure.

The tranny is not leaking anything based on my very clean 
garage floor.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Is it possible it's 
just leftover crud on the underside of the car? Could it 
be the diff? Is there a vent on the diff that could be the 
source? 

Side note: Before I buttoned the boots up on the shiter 
housing I drove a few miles to make sure all was shifting 
correctly. I noticed a whirring noise coming from the 
right hand (passenger) vent on the shifter housing and not 
the left. I could stop the sound by putting my finger over 
the vent, and I can't hear it at all now that the boots 
are installed. It's curious the left hand one had no 
sound. This may be of no consequence, but I thought I'd 
mention it.

Thanks,

Jason Glover
'76 Spider   
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