I was beginning to clean the engine compartment on my '73 2L while I have the engine out, and I noticed this bracket (inside the rectangle).

It's inside the Left engine mount, welded top and bottom, with a slot from top to bottom. It's original, because you can see the original yellow paint showing through. The PO had something secured there with 2 screw clamps, but nothing was mounted there when I got it. I looked in Haynes and the AA parts diagrams and neither shows a bracket in that location The car has AC, and the compressor would be located just ahead of this area.

So... what goes there??

Perhaps the remains of an old fuel filter mount? Where is your fuel filter presently mounted?

The pump and filter are in the front trunk.

Yup, I just took a look under my '74 to confirm. What you have there are the mangled remains of the stock fuel filter mount. Yours has been straightened out. It's supposed to be shaped like a cradle to hold the filter in its original location.

Thanks for looking. I'll straighten it out and take off the clamps, so it doesn't look like *rap, and let it rest in piece.

stock fuel filter mount ...

Andy