Whenever I'm dealing with a car that was converted to carb from EFI, already has an in-tank pump and a return line, I will put a bypass regulator on there, an inline gauge just before the carb, and tweak that thing to stay at exactly the fuel pressure I want, which is nice. As a bonus, I don't have to wail on the starter and pump the pedal over and over if the car hasn't been run in a while. I did that on my last two cars and they worked fine for years. But except under those circumstances, where it's all there anyway, I doubt I would go to the trouble of running an electric pump on a street car. My Maverick already has more electrical load than it was designed for anyway, and I recently found out those stock mechanical pumps move more fuel than I ever thought they did.
Blown 5.0, you can explain all you want, fact is the problem you describe isn't an issue with the right pump in the right application. My 89 Ranger's 8 year old pump is proof of that. And I've also mistakenly left it on for hours at a time with no ill effects.
To the original poster, a mechanical pump will do fine for you. And if your stock pump ever does need replaced Carter makes a great street mechanical pump. Summit sells them for around $80 but I've seen them on Evilbay for $50. Same basic pump that the Boss 302s came with back in 69-70.
My holley black pump is almost 8 years old and has no return and is doing fine. I get what blown 5.0 is saying and understand but they last along time either way.
