fuel tank ball thingy

I am in the process of changing the severly rusted out fuel line on my father in laws 93 dakota and while I was emptying the gas out of the tank, my lame brain brother in law taps on the ball at the base of the fill tube and knocks it lose into the tank, what is this ball thingy and is it that important? I am thinking its just to keep fumes down or backsplash.

Also, the stupid plastic clips that connect the rear lines to the fuel rail broke while disconnecting and I cannot find replacements anywhere. Anyone have experience with these wonders of chrysler engineering?

Any help appreciated, thanks.

That stupid ball is to stop somebody from cyphening your gas out.You dont have to worry about it.

Your dealer parts department should be able to fix you up on clips or any place that has body shop supplies or a good body shop may have some.
As said the ball is used as a anti siphon valve and cancles out the Arkansas
credit card and can also some are used as a anti spill valve in case of rool over depending on where and how it is set up.
MT