Today I heard a strange clanking in under my car and I put it up on some ramps and found this in the bottom of my bellhousing. Any ideas what it is or where it goes?

 

It looks a lot like the bolt(s) that attach the bellhousing to the block. I haven't got a clue how it would wind up where you found it.

 

I just looked at those bolts and it's not one of those; this one is very small and is only about 1/4" in diameter. I just wander if it could be a slave cylinder bolt.

 

I've gone through the service manual and I haven't found an illustration of bolt that long in the clutch area. I am guessing that it is either a bellhousing -> transmission bolt, or a bolt that holds the starter together.

The bolt in the picture looks like the treads have been broken off. Is there any way you can measure the diameter and length, and post a zoomed-in photo of the bolt?

 

what size head is it? I can tell you if its tranny/starter, etc..but the pic is blurry and hard to really see...plus how long is it?

 

The size of the head looks to be 8mm or 5/16 and it looks to be 2.25" long, but appears to be broke off. I will get a camera later tonight or in the morning and get a better pic.

 

That is most likely a starter bolt. There is 3. Two are pretty open and the 3rd is tucked in and more of a pain to get to.

 

Thanks everyone! Here are some more pics. I will check and see if it is a starter bolt tomorrow when I get off work, but if it is... How would it end up in the bell housing? Is that possible? I'm trying to figure this out without spending hundreds at the dealer.

 

what about the hole in the engine valley between
the cylinder heads? not sure that bolt would squeeze
through there, but at the moment it seems plausible.

 

To me, it doesn't really matter what it came from as much as HOW it got into the bellhousing.

 

Well, I know this isn't a clutch, flywheel or salve cylinder bolt. Is there any other bolts inside the bellhousing?

 

I agree it looks like a starter bolt with the shank at the head and the length.

However, the svc manual shows 6 bolts attaching the clutch pressure plate assembly to the flywheel. (I assume you have a 5 spd.) Then there are 6 bolts holding the flywheel/ring gear to the crank. I would think both of these mounting bolts would be larger diameter and shorter but idk.
I think those are the only bolts inside the bell housing that could have broken.

eci would blame those union guys.

 

Looks to be a bellhousing to transmission bolt. If I am not mistaken, the transmission is bolted to the bellhousing from the inside of the bellhousing. Just a guess. Please let us know if you find out where it came from. Good luck!

You can see what would be the end of the bolt in this picture under the "white" O2 wire harness.

 

Yes, they are larger in diameter and are shorter. This does look like a starter bolt and even has the same head, not one of the ones that hold it to the block, but one of the two that hold the electric starter motor to the base of the starter. I just wander if it could have been in there since it was new and it just now became unlodged from where it was. Should I take the transmission out and look around?

 

I agree I think it was loose inside the bell housing. If you look at the bolt I don't see twisted threads like it twisted off inside a housing - I see battered threads and shank and head from being tossed around.

 

Also could be the bolts that hold the slave cylinder on?

 

Right! Forgot about those. However, looking at the svc manual there are 14 of them - but they are about an inch long and fit a 13mm socket.

 

This bolt looks to be 58 - 60mm long, but could be chewed off a little and has a 6mm in diameter shoulder that looks 7mm long and then steps down to a 5mm in diameter shoulder that is about 36mm long. If that helps any.

 

That shank/shoulder (and length) is why I think its a starter bolt. That's how mine were on other vehicles - incl my F150. The wider shank fills the hole in the base of the starter for firm positioning and so there isn't any wear on threads like on a bolt threaded to the head.
Are you missing a starter bolt? Can you look into the starter mounting holes and see a twisted off bolt remaining?
If there isn't a bolt missing and none of the bolt remaining, the bolt probably got dropped in by accident on assembly and has been beaten up inside the bell housing.

 

It's definitely not a starter bolt and I have checked everything and can't find a bolt missing anywhere. I haven't taken the trans out, but I don't think I am. The funny thing is that this didn't start untill after I picked my car up from having it aligned, so I'm wandering if someone stuck this in the vent hole on the bottom of trans when they had it on the lift. If this bolt had been in the bellhousing for any length of time I would think it would be covered with clutch dust, but this bolt looks brand new and shiny. I think it was in there from the factory in a place where it stayed clean (If that is possible) and became dislodged or some numbskull put it in their for me while I was having castor/camber plates and it aligned. I can't find any place it could have come from, so I think I'm fine since it's out now. What do you guys think? I really appreciate all the assistance and tips!!!