If that's the only thing that has changed, maybe something is wrong with inside the filter? maybe? I mean, I've heard of plenty of other parts being bad out of the box, but not a fuel filter.
WD40 isn't a rust penetrant at all. but yeah, brake fluid can work wonders on rusted bolts! just be sure to wipe it off of paint asap. (same with WD40 for that matter). I haven't used it yet, but I've heard good things about CRC freezeoff.
I guess you could extend your bump stops a whole bunch. or weld a clearanced section into the corner of the tank. I've seen that done before on hotrods.
car-part.com might be of help with junkyard searches
be sure to flesh out your forum signature with what you have. and you should start build threads on each of your Jeeps!
MJs here: https://comancheclub.com/forum/8-member-projects-your-comanches/
other cool stuff here: https://comancheclub.com/forum/40-member-projects-other-cool-stuff/
if you're lucky you can get use the hose to isolate where the water is coming in. everything and anything that could possibly leak has leaked for someone over the years. the last one I dealt with was a leaky windshield that was dripping in and running inside the A-pillar and then dripped on the floor further down. fortunately that truck didn't have any floor liner so babypowder worked to help backtrack the location.
but I also will be acquiring a new external hd to make a complete save of all his stuff. not because I never back things up (I've got at least 4 copies of important things like family photos in 2 different houses) but because I just now learned that a 500g hd no longer cuts the mustard and 2 are near full.
I'd love to make $520 in 6 hours. that sounds like a good deal to me.
wait, you did the exhaust work with the car on the ground? no stands or ramps or anything?
someone give me 100k so I can buy one, v8 swap it, lift it, and then use it as the hauler for the about-to-be-mine low mileage MJ so I can then go to car shows and see which one actually gets more looks.