[Scales]

ok so rule out plastic welding (i felt same way as you, just spitballing really)
and rule out aftermarket mods to support a change in pump.
so we are left with using the stock pump but need to either remove or bypass the filter...... hmmm

I just had a thought, the white tube in the pic that the fuelpump connects to can actually be removed from memory. what if we put some fuel hose directly onto the outlet of the pump and plumb it out of the tank some other way other than using the stock tank outlet barb (block the outlet barb also somehow obviously)