Crankcase tag

I was down at Miller Motorcars yesterday, and they had a very rough, unpainted Dino up on the lift. The paint was scary bad and dull, but what interested me was something I have never seen, and the only thing I am aware of that is missing from my car. So, I WANT ONE!!

Would one of these have been mounted on a 1974 US model car?

Any idea where to buy one of these? Next time I change the oil, it goes on if I can find it!

And I still want to know why they are disassembling that prize Dino that's coming to auction!!
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Mike, to me it looks just like a piece of thin card stock to act as a seal, unless it has some writing on it that really holds the clue...

Regards, Alberto

 

Alberto,

The one on 03666 is aluminum and says "Olio" on it

Mike, I will ask if Hugh replaced his and if so where he got it

 

Jaimie, that makes sense, after all there is room for error with two drain plugs.
Cool info!

Regards, Alberto

 

Not that you can buy one , but the SPC gives information about when used -- item 79:

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/parts_catalogs.php?M=FE&P=&V=diag&I=2929

 

...and it only applies from # 02456 to # 05066.

As usual, very unusual...but probably there is a reasonable logic.

Regards, Alberto

 

Not that it always prevents people from removing the wrong drain plug , but, on 308, they added the cast letters "Olio Motore" and "Olio Cambio" onto their respective covers near the drain plugs. My guess would be that they added the tag in an effort to reduce service errors (so introduced at 02456 since it took a while to figure out that mistakes were being made), and then eventually added the lettering onto the covers themselves (so stopped using the tag at 05066 after that change was incorporated into the cover). Don't know that for sure, but, on that example with the tag, there is no lettering on the cover -- does somebody with a car after 05066 know if there are cast, or stamped, letters on the cover(s)?

 

Steve, what puzzles me, is the label used as a crush ring? Different plugs?

Regards, Alberto

 

Yes, I believe it does serve as/replace the crush ring (using the same plug). Convenient way to add a (very rugged), unsmudgable printed label showing "OLIO CAMBIO" without adding another part (now, if just everyone spoke Italian ).

Is your Dino after 05066, and, if so, are there cast letters on the cover?

 

The tag was definitely aluminium, and the lettering was red. It's a very cool-looking thing, and I want to find one. I'm also thinking of putting crush-washers around all the nuts on the crankcase, finally, and see if that stops the "if it's not leaking oil, it's not a Ferrari" puddles on the catch tray I keep under the car.

My 355 never leaked. But, I just sold it. Not sure why. Just wasn't using it. Might have to buy something else.

Yikes.

 

Does no one have a photo of the gearbox drain plug area on a Dino after 05066 similar to the photo in post #1?

 

No, much earlier Steve, 01104 and 03724, so no tag nor cast letters.

On the 'crush ring' feature, I don't believe it would last that many changes...

Regards, Alberto

 

McCann told me a good while back he was thinking of making those aluminum washer ID tags. Might check with him.

 

Agree, I'm sure the intention was that a new one be used whenever the drain plug was reinstalled.

 

In that case, they should be an abundant item

Regards, Alberto

 

from # 07718 per request:
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Thanks very much -- that seems to confirm that they removed one rib and added the cast letters into the covers themselves on the later Dino (so that's why the special tag/seal was discontinued after 05066).

I will add that, visually, IMO, the tag is more effective/noticable, and is better associated with the drain plug -- otherwise, we wouldn't still get reports of people making mistakes