1994 Ford Ranger, 3.0L, 5 speed, 250k on body, 90k on reman engine.

I took my truck to the transmission shop for a complete clutch repair. They installed the whole kit. After about 300 miles later the clutch starting acting up again with same symptoms and so they put another whole clutch in under warranty. When I picked it up the second time, I noticed that the engine seemed to be idling much higher and rougher than when I dropped it off. I asked them about it and they said nothing they did would affect anything in the idle circuit.

I have two problems:

1. Fast forward a couple of months and a couple of hundred miles later and I have this sound suddenly coming from the engine. I heard it first after starting it one morning. Is this exhaust manifold leak or something busted in the rod or valve train?
2. What on God's green earth is this? This had to be left behind from the clutch work, right? I'm ashamed I didn't look closer when I picked it up, but this is egregious. Can someone explain how this is even possible? Could this have done serious damage related to Point 1 above?

Thanks hivemind. I need your help to know what I'm looking at and hearing before I get all worked up and go back to that shop steaming.

link to pics
https://imgur.com/a/X9x07CX

link to video
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QVAQfA7nBDqOFQ9Sut-s67GA4zciqzcg/view?usp=sharing

 

Welcome to the forum

I assume you posted pictures but we can't see them?

Yes, on an exhaust leak after clutch work, the Y-pipe has to be removed to pull back/out the transmission

Cold engine always idles high, that's choke mode
Warm up the engine and let it idle, if still high then unplug the 2 wire connector on the IAC Valve, this is what the computer uses to set the idle RPMs
If RPMs drop after unplugging the IAC Valve then computer is setting a high idle
If RPMs do not drop then you most likely have a small vacuum leak

 

link to pics
https://imgur.com/a/X9x07CX

link to video
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QVAQfA7nBDqOFQ9Sut-s67GA4zciqzcg/view?usp=sharing

 

Looks like someone put in a block of wood to hold engine up while transmission was out, should be able to just pound it out if transmission is back in place
Or loosen transmission support and jack it up to get it out

Don't seem to have audio on my playback of the video, and I would assume the audio would be the important part, lol