Thanks for the replies. Since I posted that querie I have discovered exactly what it is, it's a
Vari-speed governor <-- like the one in this eBay ad. At first I was worried that it may have just come apart while the engine was running and the pieces were ingested by the engine. However I examined it more closely last night and took it apart and it's clear that someone went into it and physically removed the pieces. The butterfly is missing as well as the plunger parts that were attached to it. I doubt the plunger pieces that are missing could've fallen out on their own. You would have to take it apart in order to get them out. I figure it has some vacuum leaks the way it is now, I am planning to re-install it after I have sealed up all the holes in it with JB Weld. It won't appear tampered with externally.
