Venting and I need help please!!! (Long)

[79BIG10]

Well old Murphy's law always seems to get me all the time. I was able to get the wire looms done, valve covers mounted, new braided fuel line, new Edelbrock fuel line and filter, and alt. bracket and engine cleaned up a bit. Looks great So today I needed to get a new air cleaner nut since my old one is an eye sore. Cheap fix right? Well I went and stopped to see my brother and when I left his work the truck started acting up electrically. I pulled over and the truck died and I rolled to a stop in a parking lot. The battery + cable had melted to the header and shorted out. Well I disconnected the wires from the battery and about that time my brother pulls up and we run to the parts store. When we come back we saw a puddle under the truck. I was like what now. I look and it's coming from the right rear of the engine bay and clear. I was like what is that? Then I found out it was gas!! It had been leaking onto my headers and onto the ground. Luckily nothing else got hurt. We figured out that after I installed the new hose on the return line of the mechanical fuel pump (stock style) it had ruptured in the metal line under the bracket holding hte motor mount hardware. My brother went back to work by this time and I was by myself. First thing I had to do was stop the leak. I took teh return hose off the metal line to the valve and used a hose clamp and bolt and blocked it off. Then I ran my - cable (not connecting anything to the battery yet, gas fumes still strong) and grounded it. Then I ran my + cable to the starter. I then had to drop the starter and take off old cable (burnt to a crisp) and replace with new cable. Then I dried everything off with paper towels (keep them on hand) and replaced starter. By this time it had been sprinkling pretty good off and on and I was PO'ed. So I did some calming down and got some fresh air. Those fumes get to your head. So after triple checking anything and everything for clearance issues and gasoline I fired it up and no leaks
So off I went to the parts store and of course they didn't have the part I needed.

Now here's my questions- I need a new pump either a Holley or Edelbrock mechanical pump. Both are about the same price. Which is better? I'm leaning towards the Edelbrock since I can reclock it plus I won't need a regulator on it. Any thoughts?Reason I need a new one is the pump I have is causing me to run way rich due to the return line (overflow) being blocked off.

Also I need a new alternator (amazing how everything goes out all the time) and found a 120 AMP Chrome 1 wire for $118 The guy is a local guy that Txstruck went to and I can get as soon as I can pay for it. Hopefully I can get both and post some pics of everything then