HELP - Where to mount fuel pump..?!

I know some will lambast my approach since goes against manufacturer's advice, but has worked fine for >10 years (daily driver some years). This is in my 65 Newport, but plan same for my 65 Dart. I am using a Holley gearotor pump that came with their Pro-jection throttle body system. It is in the fwd engine bay at the level of the original fuel line.

Not a peep from it except if the gas gets low and sloshes (a pickup well like newer cars would fix that). If the suction side ever gets restricted and cavitates or if it sucks air, you know because it makes a groaning noise. I know because I failed a pump early on when mounted low in front of the rear axle (as recommended) and it was restricted too much by a filter (long story). You can hear it with the engine off (comforting before starting), but not with the engine running. I mounted it w/ rubber washers.

Prior to the current setup, I tried many things like a separate boost pump near the tank with the gearotor pump in the engine bay. A little pulse type booster (for carbs) didn't flow enough and starved the gearotor pump. A Holley radial-vane pump (like daredevil's) worked fine as a booster. Indeed, I later used that alone in the engine bay (w/ high-pressure relief spring), until the body leaked (porous aluminum).

The boost pump setup was only because they say to never mount the pump far from the tank. However, it was a pain getting under there to access the pump and I would hate to do so on the side of the road. The Newport has a nice area in front of the leaf spring perch, but still not as accessible and protected as the engine bay. Anyway, I noticed that fuel poured out of the 5/16" tubing quite fast under gravity, so didn't understand how not enough volume, so dropped the boost pump. I have just a carb-style "rock-catcher" filter in the rear. I will run a 3/8" supply line in my Dart and use the original 5/16" one for return (planned for Newport too). Maybe NOx drag racers need >3/8". I know a bit about fluid flow, and don't think a straight 5' length of tubing to get you to the engine bay adds appreciable restriction to what you get from the in-tank sock, hoses, and bends. You could get a bucket and stop watch and run some tests (don't smoke).

Beside the Holley gearotor and radial-vane pumps, I have also used a standard high-pressure external pump - many brands but look identical, just ask for a "Ford truck external pump ~1990" at auto parts. The Pro-jection needs 20 psi, but these pumps work at any outlet pressure to 60 psi (exc. radial-vane), so should work for anything from a carb to MPI. They output a volumetric flow, so you must have a return regulator (integral to Holley's throttle body). Not my choice for use w/ a carb, but I keep a carb in the trunk in case the Pro-jection fails.