what the heck is this? it came off while I was cleaning it. Suggestions??? Please help!!!

How do the CCV's come off? Just pull really hard???

 

really??? no one can help me here??

 

Not a great help but...

...I posted a question about those pieces a while back, no real answer on them but I just put them back (after scraping off the old crusted rtv or what it was) with some green loctite (mine were badly disformed for some odd reason).

The CCV's; I just slightly twisted and pulled – used some lube to help with the old rubber.

 

If i had to take a stab at what it could be. I'd say some sort of shim or a type of gasket.

What part of the vehicle/area were you cleaning that it came off of?

 

you cleaning the valve cover out?

 

It's from the inside of the valve cover, where the CCV comes "down".

 

yep thats it, now what? can i just stick it back on and retighten??? get new one? from where?

 

thin film of gasket sealer and put gasket back on

 

That is your valve cover oil baffle. OP's pic is the baffle gasket.
Screw it back on witha thin coat of RTV, like was posted.

As for HOW the CCV/Fresh Air elbows come out:
Depends on the year.

Early 4.0L elbows twist out 1/4 turn counterclockwise- lift
Later 4.0L elbows are grommeted in. Pull like a (insert expletive here) and should pop out. Warning: over time the rubber grommets can harden, making removal of the elbow very difficult or impossible.

Early-style are short and often cream colored.
Later-style are tall and often gray in color with a large rubber base(grommet)