[zzmac]

I'm not very mechanical either but I think you guys have it all wrong!

It looks like a transmission to me. To check, just start the car and shift into first gear and let out the clutch. It the car doesn't move forward, I'd bet dollars to donuts that I'm right and it is the transmission. Another way to tell is if the shifter moves very freely between gears.

Just put the transmission back in the car and you should be ok.