Bell housing inspection cover missing?

Hey guys, this is my first post here! I recently bought a 2011 super white Tacoma access cab 4x4 sr5 with a 6spd trans. I’ve had the truck for about a month now. I’ve put roughly 3000 miles on it exploring from San Diego to Yosemite. After driving some fs roads in sequoia I noticed a chirping while parked in neutral w/ engine running, pushed the clutch and it went away. Did some research on tacoworld and read a bunch of throw out bearing threads and about the different bandaid options. This thread isn’t about the tob topic though. In reading a write up about changing a spring in the slave cylinder the first step was to remove a bell housing inspection cover plate. So when I looked under the truck the first thing I noticed was I could see the flywheel through where that cover should be. I don’t know if I bought the truck without the cover or if it felt off on the trail.

So I’m first wondering if anyone has or knows where to locate the part number for that cover? I’ve looked on rockauto and websites like that but can’t find it anywhere.

Second, something intriguing happened. I didn’t want any rocks or whatever getting in the bell housing so I cover the hole with duck tape. The noise then for the last 400 miles to mammoth and then back to LA pretty much disappeared. I’m wondering if having the opening covered doesn’t allow as much air to come in and spin that bearing? Just wondering what you guys thought, thanks in advance!!

 

pICTURE!

 

I’ll have to get a pic later, it’s only going to be a pic of duck tap on the bell housing though lol.

In the meantime here’s a some pics to bump the thread

At the dealer lot
And a week later at Joshua tree, got a camper shell and made a sleeping platform