2 unrelated issues

[kpb]

Put on a new fuel pressure regulator yesterday and apparently solved my warm idle problem. 2 questions from this exercise -- 1) I will be replacing the fuel filter soon and am wondering if there is a safe and efficient way to de-pressurize the fuel system? Yesterday, I simply slipped off one rail line at the regulator and received the expected spray of petrol. 2) What is the device which precedes the regulator in the fuel line? It looks quite like the pressure regulator but it simply has an inlet and outlet side, and seems to be some type of filter?

Issue 2 -- Can anyone direct me to a source for a hood pad? I have not found one at the various MB sites nor have I been able to locate a generic one at my local parts stores.

Subject is '72 280SE 4.5 (W108 M117)

Thanx

kpb