I did the mods this week-end for under $40. I used metal brake line (about $5 for each of the 3/8 and 5/16 parts).
l was not able to use the foot. It was broken into two pieces and the upper portion had a split. I put the infeed about 1/4" from the bottom. My return is 16" long, with the opening about 4" beyond the float.
The mixing chamber was full of crud. I mounted a G3 clear filter (vertically to eliminate the air trap) near the tank .
I took pictures (now to figure out how to post them).

I did this slowly and methodically trying to avoid mistakes.

A big "Thank You" to those who came before me and posted pictures as well as leaving suggestions.

 

I just load the pictures into my gallery here on FTE, then post them in the thread from there.

Kind of scary how those screens looked inside there isn't it. Makes you feel good about taking the time to get them out of there.

 

Here's what mine looked like 2 weeks ago.

 

You can get a new foot from parts guy Ed.

 

I think it it worth getting another foot. It looks to me like the foot helps avoid sucking air when the tank is getting low, and it also protects against sucking up rocks and twigs with the coarse screen in the bottom.

The second thing it does is protect against rubbing or poking a hole in the bottom of the tank with the pickup tube. The large contact area is made of a rubber-like material that is softer than the plastic tank. It flexes in a bellows-like manner so that it follows the movement of the tank when the tank bottom flexes, like when you hit a bump. All those tiny "feet" around the edge space it up from the tank while allowing the fuel to flow into the foot even when the tank is almost empty. The large effective opening of the foot reduces the tendency for the pump to start a vortex (looks like a small tornado spinning within the liquid fuel) and suck air. A vortex can form in a tank with several inches of fuel left, if the pump flow is large enough and the inlet is small enough - like a 3/8" line.

Just my .02.

 

I am agree with you 100% Jock, I would replace it. But I gotta ask... rocks and twigs? LOL.

 

Well, it's a COARSE screen!

 

I meant where are you filling up that you have to worry about rocks and twigs? Just giving you a hard time.

 

I almost included low-flying birds, too. You would not believe what people have found in their tanks.

 

Unless a problem arises, I do not think it is worth while to drop the tank again just to install another foot. I expect the G3 filter to catch anything that may get in the tank.
Bare in mind, i did not leave the foot out because i did not want it. It was no good and i did not have a spare to replace it with.