I hope that your concerns (and now mine) are unfounded, but all I can go on is his word on this.

About the filter. Since I am going to hook up the dual remote filter when the engine is reinstalled, do I need to install a filter? Should I just use one of the 2 filters I have already purchased to use on the dual remote filters?

I apologize, but I just want to do this correctly, since I have a lot of $$$ tied up in this.