I see several brands of fuel pumps from various suppliers including the T-bird specialty sources as well as Rock Auto. I have read about problems with Airtex. Which is the best pump? Airtex, Carter, US Motor Works?

Unless you care about originality or wish to keep the vacumn washers, most any FE fuel pump will fit the Y-Block. You can't use the canister pumps as they hit the TBird frame.  I have an FE pump on my modified Tbird 292 and it works great.  I ditched the wipers as I never drive in the rain.  I'll probably go to electric wipers if I need them.