Just Fishing
Can't fix stupid
Those are studs, meant for adding a nut to hold things in place like wire harnesses or the transmission dipstick. The bolt goes in, then you have a stud to attach things using a nut. On my 02 there are 3 of them and they’re all used. Are you sure you didn’t pull the nuts off and then the accessories fell off and you didn’t notice? I know it’s hard to see up there but you don’t want to pinch a wiring harness between the bellhousing and block. Pretty sure you at least need the one for the trans dipstick.
every single one of those bolts except for the bottom two at the oil pan were double sided nuts.
And i don't see anything dangling.