Flathead efi issue

[ken-r-mer]

I'm running a 49-53 Flathead w/ 2 - 1988 Ford Escort EFI throttle bodies controlled by Megasquirt II software. The Ford fuel specs for the Escort throttle bodies is between 35-45 psi. The existing fuel pump is an external unit w/ a fuel filter but no pressure regulator (hmmm). I can't read the info on the pump's external housing.
Recently I noticed a stumble in the engine performance when letting off the accelerator in top gear once achieving cruising speed.
When I got home I noticed the fuel pressure gauge reading around 28 psi. I let the motor cool off and the next day started up the motor and the reading was 38 psi. I took it out for a ride and the stumble reappeared after about 10 minutes of driving. Returning home I had a reading of 28 psi on the gauge, again.
I figure it's either a tired fuel pump or partially clogged fuel filter. So I decided to replace both.
I found a Powerflow EFI fuel pump rated at 45 psi (maximum range of the Escort EFI) with a fuel flow for up to 750 hp (should be adequate for my 180 hp flattie).
My question is....the previous owner had positioned the fuel filter AFTER the fuel pump. Would it be smarter to install the fuel filter BEFORE the electric fuel pump? Could micro sized particles in the fuel, normally caught by the filter, affect the fuel pumps performance, thus causing the fuel pump's early demise? The original pump has only 14,500 miles on it.