yeah gear lube is around an 80 weight, and that stuff is pretty thick.
It could just be that you have a crappy oil filter.
The anti-drain back valves on oil filters just plain suck.
What happens when these things stop working properly, and they do all the time, even with brand new filters, is the the oil drips down from your valve train after you turn your engine off. The oil is hot and thin, and it just starts drippin on down. The valve is supposed to keep that from happening, but like i said, the valve sucks.
It could just be that its gotta build up pressure, and the oil needs to work its way up to your valve train.
I have a 1995 F-150 with a straight six. The straight is a tall engine, and it clatters like a mofo when i start it in the morning for a few seconds. Thats normal for a 300 though. they sound enough like diesels as it is
oh and by the way, hi. i'm Tyler. I'm new.

Dropped by here because an internet friend of mine, Shartley, recomended the forum. My dad just bought a 2001 cobra
:edit: i would try simply changing to a high quality (keep in mind this is gunna cost ya an extra 2-3 dollars, so shop around. hehe) oil filter.