Tuning Street Demon carb

I bought a Summit brand kit of Holley carb jets for the secondaries on my Street Demon because I wanted to richen it up but something seems off. I went from the stock #86 to #88 jets and my AFR is about the same or possibly even leaner. Before that I had 54x38 metering rods and #87 jets in the primaries and at the same time I swapped the secondaries I went up to #91 primary jets. I started with 60x50 metering rods and that was still lean at WOT (high 13s) so went to 58x44 rods and it came down to low 13s, better but still lean. I find that strange because from the factory this carb comes with 56x40 metering rods, #89 primary jets and #86 secondary jets which I would think wouldn't be that lean.

I'm thinking A) some debris got into the carb when I reinstalled the fuel line as I have a homemade hard line going from the fuel filter to the carb and all I did for a "flare" was jam a tapered punch in the end and hammer it until the end opened up a bit; I'm afraid it sliced up the inside of the rubber line and some pieces got in. And B), my stock-replacement mechanical pump with 5/16" lines can't supply enough fuel for a 450-hp 360. It doesn't seem to be leaning out with RPM though, if I cruise in 2nd gear around 2000 RPM and then quickly floor it the AFR instantly goes to around 13.0-13.2 and stays there.

Should I upgrade the fuel supply before trying to tune the carb more? What would be the next step, adding an electric pump near the tank and a regulator near the carb? I'd prefer not to have to run a return line...