Some thoughts.... It doesn't sound like you hooked up the drain line properly to feed the fuel system. You would need to run a hose from the drain line on the drivers side to metal line on the passenger side (bottom metal line on the left in second pic) which is under a cover and then bleed the system. This would tell you is the sock is clogged.
Secondly... If dropping a tank may I recommend picking up hydraulic lift cart. Because even when you think the tanks empty, it's not. And when fuel sloshes without any baffles weight shifts fast. When I pulled this tank by myself to plumb for my heater recently, it was about half full. It made it rather easy.
Third... rubber lines. Replace them, especially between the tank and the lift pump. The feed lines are all under vacuum while the engine is running so a small pin hole may let air in but not show a leak. When you bleed the system, you fill the fuel filter and give the injection pump a fuel source until air starts bleeding in again. They are 30+ years old. As well
@cucvrus has said the same for the metal line from the tank to the passenger side getting corroded and letting air in. Check it well.
For the lift pump on the M1010, pull the alternators to gain more access to it. Replace the rubber hoses at it as well. Someone found the formed
curved S hose from a corvette is similar to ours which is discontinued. Use grease to hold the pump push rod in place when reassembling.
Injection pump, isn't terrible to do. More than four hours on the M1010 with the alternators and the AC to deal with. And it gives you some time to clean things up.