Here's a partial use for dryer sheets. I guess the poster was assuming they would dry up and eliminate whatever that thing is also...... A sheet will repel mosquitoes on your patio. Hang a sheet when outdoors during the mosquito season. Eliminates static electricity from your television and computer screen. Fabric softener sheets are designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television and computer screen with a used sheet to keep dust from resettling. A sheet can be used to dissolve soap scum from shower doors, and the tile walls. Clean the surfaces with a sheet. A fragranced sheet can be used to freshen the air in your home. Place an individual sheet in a drawer, hang one in the closet, locker at the health club, locker at work or under the seat of your car or truck. Leave several in the RV or camper while it's in storage. A sewing needle run through a sheet prior to sewing, can prevent the thread from tangling. A sheet left inside suitcase luggage or travel baggage can prevent musty odors. Place a single sheet inside the empty luggage before storing. Fabric softener sheets are claimed to clean baked on foods from cooking pots and pans. Place a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight. Next morning sponge it clean. The antistatic agent apparently weakens the bond between the stuck on food between the pot or pans surface. The fabric softening agents helps to soften the baked on food. Placing a sheet at the bottom of the wastebasket, helps eliminate odors found in wastebaskets. Placing an individual sheet at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper will accomplish the same results. Collecting pet hairs. Rubbing the area with a sheet will magnetically attract all the loose hairs. Eliminating static electricity from venetian blinds and window coverings. Wipe the blinds with a sheet is said to prevent dust from resettling. Wiping up sawdust, on the shop workbench, from drilling or sandpapering is easy. A used sheet will collect sawdust like a tack cloth. They will take the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often. Placing a sheet in your shoes or sneakers overnight, will help to deodorize them and as a result they will smell much better in the AM.
I think it is there for clearance of the power brake booster. The power brake booster on those cars is a big round ball and it is mounted under the floor if I remember my '54 correctly. The booster might be missing from under the car, but that's most likely what was there. Those boosters are very pricey to have rebuilt, so it's possible someone swiped that one for their Desoto or Chrysler some years ago.
http://www.imperialclub.com/Repair/Lit/Master/080/page06.htm You said drivers side under the seat right?
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