Sounds Like Marbles In My Bell Housing When Accelerating

I have 225 v6 to ford T18 transmission. I filed, welded and drilled the bellhousing along with some parts from novak. Been a great setup for a decade atleast.

Im getting a loose marbles/clanking/rattling from my bellhousing...everytime i accelerate at the beginning of each gear.

Obviously im going to pull it apart regardless, but does anyone have any insight on what it may be? The pilot bearing is new from novak. Throw out bearing is new. Ford clutch disk is new. Jeep pressure plate is new....i assume one of these new parts failed?

 

Check your ignition timing. That's the classic sound of detonation. Especially if it only happens under acceleration/load.

 

I keep hearing and reading that. I had my buddy put a stethescope on the bell housing when i was driving we were pretty confident about it coming from there. But since i put the HEI dizzy in, to replace the points set, ive had nothing but trouble, for years. (mostly those boomerangs under the cap failing). Ill check the ignition first thank you!

 

Put the points back in and use a timing light....

 

The torque absorbing springs in the driven plate may be broken or loose, Have had them rattle and clang just before they completely fail.

 

Would it release?

 

Sounds like the release bearing is toast.

 

My CJ3A had the same noise after I swapped the T98 in. It would only happen under heavy load. Finally figured out the spring that pulls my starter back was missing and the starter teeth were vibrating out and touching the flywheel.

Might be a place to check.

 

Would not that make noise anytime the clutch was released? I've never had a release bearing come completely apart and you almost always have plenty of warning they are going to crap. My first thought was something loose in the bellhousing but I can't think of any reason why that would produce the sound only at the beginning of each gear.

 

Steve’s 71 has the same sound. You only hear it when accelerating from each gear because the engine noise, wind, transfer case drowns it out. His throw out bearing just barley touches the clutch fingers when he is off the pedal. This is on his list of winter fixes.

 

On my T18 I had a broken bearing retainer snout. It sounded like lots of marbles clanging around. It really wasn’t that noticeable while driving, but stopped it was pretty loud.