there's a hockey puck sized tin can in the hydraulic lines for the clutch. it sits below and behind the intake snorkel on the driver's side fender well.

anybody know what this thing is? and what is it doing in my clutch lines?

 

Sounds like the hydraulic clutch damper. It is put in the line to prevent vibrations from being felt in the clutch pedal.

 

thanks. any idea how this silly thing works?

 

Yup... dampener. It's to 'improve' the clutch feel! Basically it doesn't restricts flow in one direction.