84 fuel pump issue: Conversion to carb setup

Hi,
I'm a long-time subscriber to Corvette Fever, but have never had a problem vexing enough to warrant posting to a forum! Here's the deal: I have an 84 that was converted to an Edelbrock carb/intake setup before I bought the car. I was aware that the car had an electric "helper" fuel pump installed where the stock fuel filter was located, and a smaller fuel filter was installed on the line near the carb. When I bought it, well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. For the 1 1/2 yrs of ownership, it ran fine with no problems (I added maybe 1000 miles in that time). One day as I was driving, an unbelievably terrible squawk--think of ear splitting guitar feedback within the confines of a Corvette cockpit with the windows up--came through the radio. A few minutes later, the car began stumbling and running rough. I got the car home and found that the wire to the helper pump had apparently brushed up against right side header and melted through. I assumed that this was what caused that squawk. To make a very, very long story much shorter, and to avoid recounting several trips to mechanics who could not make this car run, the problem is this: fuel is not being delivered from the tank to the carb. The helper pump has been replaced with a stock fuel filter, and the in-tank pump is not pumping. Replacing it makes no difference as there is apparently some electrical issue where the fuel level sending unit works fine, but the pump is getting no power. If I switch this car to a mechanical block mounted fuel pump, what issues will arise as far as line routing, pressure regulation, etc. I plan to leave the original in-tank pump in place, otherwise I have no info as to fuel level. Are there any recommendations as to what kind of fuel pump to use? Summit Racing stocks a GM pump that provides about 7 psi, as well as an Edelbock pump that is higher capacity. This car, when running, is a great machine that has some mods to the suspension that make it corner like it's on rails. However, for the last couple years it's been depressing to say the least, and I've got a 75 I want to get to work on!!
Thanks in advance if you can provide any insights...  

here is the wiring diagram for the 84/85 ... lower left is the fuel pump wiring

http://repairguide.autozone.com/znetrgs/repair_guide_content/en_us/images/0900c152/80/08/fd/a0/large/0900c1528008fda0.gif

one of the ep39?? series pumps is slightly shorter than the ep3901 fuel pump that supplied the TBI>..    and it would go in the tank....  4 to 7 psi...

have you examined the intank  pump unit???   takes about 15 minutes to pull the intank unit..  right through the upper deck...   you might want to invest in a new gasket for the mounting flange first... ... from gm...


usually on gm's there is an oil pressure switch under the distributer with 2 or 3 terminals... the outer terminals power the fuel pump when there is oil pressure... this takes the fuel pump relay out of the system.. as it will not work when there is no ecm...  

UPDATE: I pulled the stock pump from the tank and replaced it with a piece of metal fuel line to allow for flow, then installed a new pump on the fuel line where the stock fuel filter was. She cranked right over and started immediately. This is a temporary repair just to get the car running, but running she is...and would you believe that one of the articles in the latest issue of Corvette Fever addresses the exact problem. See page 64. There are some electrical issues that I will have to deal with, but for the next few days I'm just going to enjoy driving this Vette--it's been a long time!