I've used the see-thru filters on several vehicles with no problem. Had one on the Sneezle Mercedes for years, and have one on my Goldwing now. If they are not allowed to bang up against anything, OR if they are not
tightened too tight when screwing the ends on, I don't see how they would break. The one on the Goldwing pretty much just lays on top of the engine case with no problems.
All that being said, a regular metal filter is definitely safer in the long run, but the see-thrus with replaceable elements are fine.
As far as the bronze in-carb filters, I prefer those to the paper ones....the bronze ones can be cleaned/reused. I can't see being a bronze material would really pass any more heat to the fuel than the metal fuel lines, or the carb bowls....unless I'm missing something there.
Installing a filter back by the tank is iffy, in most cases, with a mechanical fuel pump. The best thing for that is to use as small of one as possible....the less volume the pump has to suck the fuel thru the better. A filter with a large canister can work the pump a little more than normal to get the fuel started thru it, since the filter will always have a small amount of air in it.
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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"