Hello all --

I've been running my diesel Trooper around a bit (not too much as it has no hood yet) and have noticed a noise coming from what I think is the bellhousing area when idling in neutral, only present with the clutch engaged (goes away when the pedal is pressed down).

It is a rattling, scratching noise. The transmission had some water in it when it arrived and much rust powder in the bellhousing, so I imagine it had not been treated with kid gloves during shipping/storage, but it has fresh oil in it now.

What I am wondering is, is this in any way normal noise? Bear in mind that I currently have no carpet, shift boots or sound deadening material installed in this area.

Also bear in mind that this can be heard over a running diesel engine with absolutely no exhaust installed. The turbo does take a lot of noise out, though... it's not that loud (and I've heard gassers run straight off the headers before - this is nowhere near the same sort of exhaust noise).

Thanks for any insight.