help identifying part

[spenceman72]

While removing my headers this morning, specifically the drivers side header, I had to remove a part from the engine to allow the header to drop through. This part was connected to the bottom back drivers side of the engine and was connected to an arm of sorts that runs through the dash and seems to go behind the instrument cluster. Can you guys help me identify what this part does? Also a 'bolt' fell onto me, looks like a wing nut, but doesn't actually screw on to a arm. Sorry for such a terrible description here, hopefully the pictures will tell more.