quote:Push the clutch in and put the car in gear. If the noise is still there it ISN'T the ZF. More than likely it is the throwout bearing...
....or the pilot roller bearing (if installed). Both should be changed whenever there's an opportunity since both are cheap and require the whole ZF transaxle to be removed for access.
Diagnosing described noises in a machine a thousand miles away is nigh-on-impossible, but the ZF is about the most bullet-proof part in your Pantera. Nevertheless, some owners can 'break an anvil with a rubber mallet' so it pays to check the box out when you pull it for the above checks. Once out, the box is drained, flipped upside down and the bottom cover is removed to visually inspect. The ring gear bolts should be safety-wired if not already done!