New fuel filter needed; what is best?

I've been using my car's original glass fuel filter, and I need to add one to the fuel line. I noticed poor idle quality getting worse, so I took the Edelbrock 1411 apart today and found a little dirt in the bottoms of the bowls.

I took it (the carb) mostly apart and cleaned it out, and now I need a new filter...is there a really fine mesh filter that will still allow sufficient fuel to pass? Metal, plastic?

Thanks

Here is the original filter housing:

 

Can you post pictures that show more about what the fuel system looks like on the engine? The first two things that come to mind that I don't like is the copper tubing and all the rubber hose you have plumbed in there. Both can have really bad failure modes.

Devon

 

Edelbrock stipulates rubber fuel line to the carb inlet. There is a rubber fuel line from the pump (this is a '66 Cadillac, but the fuel pump is in the same place as a Buick V8) to the factory filter. That could be steel, but it's not at the moment.

 

I think maybe Edelbrock "stipulates" this because they provide a hose nipple or triple barb nipple on their carburetors for easy, universal installation by the masses. Can you tell me which type they use (I haven't seen any of the late Edelbrock carbs up close)? Either way, if the fitting is removable, a substitution might be made to allow steel line and inverted flare fittings, which is definitely the way to go.

The problem with rubber line is that when it does fail, it does pretty spectacularly (especially if there's an underhood fire), as does fatigued copper tubing. Another problem with rubber line is that it takes a "set" under the clamps. Worm drive clamps are great on large diameter hoses, but are pretty bad on small diameter hoses such as fuel lines. If you've ever come back to a fresh rubber fuel line installation a month later and wondered why you had to tighten them up again, there you go.

I can go on, but you already got my point.

Devon