RedResistance

Hello all, I'm doing a HG job on my 2RZ-FE pickup and as I was taking the timing cover off, a piece of aluminum that protrudes out of the timing over on the inside next to the crankshaft position sensor (CKP) broke off. I cant see how this would effect it running and I am genuinely wondering why that piece of metal was there to begin with. I figure that as long as the CKP gear is still on and intact, the CKP would still get a magnetic signal from the gear.. I'm just wondering if this piece was important for engine operation.

Also, which way is the lower timing gear supposed to go on? Theres a dot on one of the teeth, is this dot supposed to be facing out or in? When I put it on facing out the chain doesn't appear to be on correctly.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks