i think i just spent 15 bucks on a new feul pump for no good reason. today after running the engine for a bit to check some things out, and heat up for a cooling system flush, i noticed that the clear fuel filter up by the carb was looking really thirsty. didnt make much sense so i took off the gas cap, and around the block to jiggle the 20 dollars worth of gas around. it took an hour to get back home. went to the store for a fuel pump, got home, and decided to give it one more shot with the old pump. friggin fuel filter filled up with gas, pretty as you please.
was this fuel pump a wasted trip to the auto parts store?

Now you have a spare.

Fuel line mod to improve starting and reduce vapor lock

Most likely cause of your problem is buildup of cråp in the fuel tank from the car sitting on a mountain for two years. You run the car, crud gets sucked up against the in-tank filter, starves the engine, engine dies, no more suction in fuel system 'cause fuel pump no longer running, crud flows away from in-tank filter, engine starts again the next time you try.

Yank the tank and clean it out! If it's hopeless, new ones are available.

internal tank filter?!
i thought the only filter in the system was the inline one up by the carb.
is this "in tank" filter removable, and cleanable when i remove the tank?

Commonly called the "filter sock". Yes, it's removable (it's on the end of the fuel gauge sender and pickup unit). Not really cleanable, new ones are inexpensive.