The problem with crudded up tanks is that ethanol-infected fuel is an excellent crud stripper. The crud sloughs off in sheets onto the bottom of the tank. Chunks of rust are not your friend either. An inline filter will not prevent clogging of the outlet at the bottom of the tank. A '54/early '55 sending unit has a fuel pipe at the top of the tank, eliminating this type of blockage. They fit the earlier tanks, so you can just put a pipe plug in the hole at the bottom of your '47-'53 tank.
Carl
