I agree, the filter at the pump is much easier. I had one of the hose inlines there for a while (not the Ford because I hadn't seen anything like that in plain view at the parts store and it is a good solution) but finally decided to play around with the ceramic when I had the carbs rebuilt and got a new pump hose.

For anyone that wants to see what I did, made another and have done a brief writeup. Will email to Kev to post as its a bit large for here. Am sure there will be differences of opinion, and hope others have some more ideas after seeing this attempt. The one ring piece that requires a bit of work makes it more than a 5 minute job and I'd like to eliminate it somehow but didn't feel comfortable doing so then --or now without feedback.

ADDENDUM: An easier ring has been looking at me for several hours, that being a thin 1/4" wide brass strip from a hobby shop. As long as the metal of element fits flush and tight against the outlet, the ring does not have to be a solid piece. All it is for is to center things and prevent element from getting cocked or sliding and letting gas bypass. It shouldn't be too hard to cut off a proper length and bend it into a decent circle. It could be soldered if wanted to make it solid.

I just don't see why people don't put an inline filter before the fuel pump, leave the bowl minus the element, and be done with it???

The suggestion of swap meets for a paper or original ceramic and even the Ford inline would be easier, but I don't frequent many meets and also wanted something almost original in appearance so that said, I have been using a Purolator paper filter removed from a modern plastic housing for about a year.

After seeing this thread a week or so ago, decided to document it but got sidetracked. Will send Kev some pictures and my procedure later today or tomorrow. It was not too hard, was readily available, fits pretty well, passable in looks, and using that as a starting point maybe others can suggest alternatives requiring less work or opinions as to whether the one piece I made that might be an issue for others is needed.

You see these items by the dozens in car show flea markets, should be easy to find one including the housing for about $10. There was also a smaller paper element made by AC which could replace the ceramic element, also common in flea markets.

......or clearing the bugs.

I tried soaking the ceramic in thinner and back blowing it. Still no good. I'm thinking along the lines of a brass or copper stranded wadding as an element perhaps captured in a fine screen shaped like the ceramic. The wadding could be a one of those pot scrubbers.
OR a stack of thin brass disks with holes in them like were used back in the 30's, 40'and early 50's in some filter applications. Anything. We ought to be able to come up with SOMETHINg to replace the ceramic. I'm wondering if the Ford filter in the pic above could be cut open and the paper element inside used.

CLearing sand from the windshield???

Mr PB. WHERE did u get that picture !!! ??? That's ME on the rite in front of the house with my girl friends brother and i don't remember her snapping the picture.

Well guys uship worked out pretty well they will be picking up my engine tomorrow and have it at Harts Machine Service tomorrow Afternoon. All for $130. It would of cost me about that much in gas if I had to run it out there. :)

I should have recorded my tranny number. It is Bxxxx right after the "star". Next time I'm up on the rack, I'll use the mirror I normally admire myself in.