98 cutlass fuel pump

my 98 cutlass looses power ocassionaly, usually when the fuel tank is lowand you are going up a grade. The dealership has done fuel pressure checks and come up with nothing. They suggested replacing the fuel pump, said maybe the fuel strainer (sock) was some what plugged. They also said the strainer itself could not be replaced (had to replace the entire unit).

Does anyone know about this? or how to remove the fuel pump to check the strainer? Do you need to drop the tank?

Thanks

Tank must come out, the symptoms do point to either problem, but I believe the strainer is a seperate item.