Engine part ID Needed, please help

1) probably the shift shaft seal (try TAV 31 or the page labeled "COMANDI ESTERNI CAMBIO" in your SPC)

2) not engine out, but it requires removing a motor mount or two (plus a fair bit of disassembly) and doing some engine "manuevering/angling" to be able to withdraw the rod in the forward direction.

See this post by Tod328gts:

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7445&page=2&pp=20

 

The rod is the link from the shift lever inside the car to the transmission. It's what changes the gears when you move the shifter.

 

Unfortunately, I've never come across a clear/concise illustration and/or description showing the complete 308/328 shifting mechanism in the F documentation -- but it's the kind of thing where once you have the gearbox pan off and can just look at it in action it's very clear/obvious how it works (the best you can do is try to combine the SPC illustrations showing the "external gearbox controls" and the "internal gearbox controls" -- you'll note that that shaft appears in both).

As DJ said, that shaft translates and rotates in response to the gear shift lever motions in order to select what gear, if any, is engaged inside the gearbox. There are actually two "seals" (I think they are just o-rings on your '77) that should be replaced -- one where that shaft penetrates the crankcase and another where that shaft exits the crankcase and enters the gearbox.

The only encouraging thing I can say is that it's not an uncommon problem at all so "situation normal"

 

This is one of the next things on my "to do list"!! It's the only leak I have left after having almost every other seal on the car replaced when I had it serviced.

 

Doesn't sound too bad. I disconnect the main shift rod, and turn the shift shaft about 90 degrees clockwise and it should slide out, right? The seal was original. 27 year old seals should leak.