I also have a standard AC glass-bowl carburetor inlet filter on all my 54/55 235/261/270 GM engines, and the sock in the fuel tank, and a glass bowl top when using dual action fuel pump that has one (maybe that is why the glass bowl was not on the 1954 (and later) dual-action fuel pumps)?

I do not know about needle-valve/ball-valve in 1946.

I should have stayed away from this thread, but there was a post about drawing the fuel from the top of the tank. Sorry.

Tim
1954Advance-Design.com
1954 3106 Carryall Suburban
1954 3104 5-window pickup w/Hydra-Matic
The 216 and early 235 engines are not "splash oilers" -- this is a splash oiler.