The <90 cars you've owned Jim have had the fuel filter moved as the engine bay is not the factory position for the fuel filter on xr4x4 or xr4i. It is supposed to be where everyone has said either next to the fuel pump or above the rear right-hand drive shaft.

If your designing a fuel system and trying to make it fail safe which position would you place the fuel filter in,

A. Right near the fuel tank so if it fails fuel pours onto the road and you conk out.

or

B. In the engine bay right next to the battery that could have a loose connector that likes to spark from time to time