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I believe the soft washers on the fuel pick-up to tank
are used due to their sealing properties when tightened
down (crushed). Question: with the absence of these
washers, would a thin coat of permatex #1 on the screw
threads be an acceptable substitute?

Hardware stores sell small plastic washers. Whatever you do, DO NOT use silicone anywhere near your fuel. My M37 had the filter unit sealed with it from the DPO. It dropped a threadlike rim of it into the gas and it grew to 5/16 worm size and plugged up the pickup tube way back in the hills cutting firewood. Glad I had my tool set with .John

You can make your own lead washers fairly easy or just go lookin for copper ones at the hardware shop.

I found washers in the mcmaster carr catalog that had an inner circle of teflon designed to seal and solvent-proof.
Tom