I am not exactly shure what you are talking about, but i think you described the jack point for the tranny.
It looks kinda like a motor mount attached to a bracket?
I had one on my 99 and just unbolted it and trashed it. Not suggesting to do that , but it is just in the way.
I thought it was plastic too at first, but i think it is metal composite of some sort, with a rubber bushing behind it.


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1985 4Runner