fazm

What is this thing for and what does it do?

Nickshu

It looks like the bracket that supports the bottom of the throttle body and simultaneously clips a couple of hoses in place. Does your car have a different intake and throttle body installed?

76FJ55

What year and spec car do you have? S/Non-S, Manual/Tip... Is everything stock?

The large eye is an engine hoist mounting point, but since these come out the bottom is not commonly used.

On our 01 S Tip: as I recall
The upper forward facing attach point, has a clamp holding the vent line for the trans.
There is also a bracket that supports the shift cable where it passes over the bracket in question.
The rear upward facing attach point supports a intake resonator chamber that attaches to the intake tube just before the throttle body.

fazm

Thanks - I figured it was a hoist point or something. As far as I can tell, my car is stock. I have a 2004 986 S. Although I'm soon going to work on cramming a 996 plenum and throttle body in there. I'll probably do the 987 air intake at the same time.

Christoph Soltau

Yup, used to attach an engine support brace when removing the gearbox. Very handy as you can still raise and lower the car, which you can't do if supporting the rear of the engine on an axle stand or jack, or log.