I recently purchased a 2004 D2 with the 4.6. This one like lots of Others was purchased with a bad head gasket and coolant in the oil. A few weakends ago I started ripping the engine down, And pulled the heads, Timing cover and oil pan. Like most 4.6 head gaskets, It failed by cylinder eight in between the cylinder and the cooling jacket. There was no signs of a slipped liner. No damage to the head gasket from Any cylinder sleeves impacting it. There was 2.5 thousandths Variance in the driver head from front to back, So I sent them off to be machined. I believe spec is two thousandths. While they are being machined I proceeded to clean up all of the oil pan, velve covers, Lower and upper intake as well as the block. Like other rovers I did find that the oil pump had one crack, But no damage to the housing. I cleaned it up and rebuilt it, Getting it ready for reinstall. While cleaning up the oil pan though, After the tray was removed, I found an extra part... To me this looks like the side of a main bearing, Specifically the thrust bearing, except these three little tabs facing inward.

Bonus part...

Notice the 3 tabs...
I have rebuilt many engines, This is my first landrover engine specifically though. I am thinking those 3 tabs Maybe part of where the thrust bearing connected to the main bearing originally?? Or possibly this is some type of shim. Although I do not believe the 4.6 uses shims.

Anyway, I would like some help identifying this piece. To make sure i'm on the right track.

 

This does look like a thrust bearing.

 

Your engine just got rid of what it didn't want. But yeah def thrust bearing.

 

I pulled the center main and confirmed it coughed up the thrust face of the center bearing. The crank looks perfect, no marks or damage at all. I am going to replace this bearing and check the others. I am going to roll the dice and not regrind the crank and see how it goes. I will emery cloth the journal slightly just for clean up.