whats the easyiest way to change the fuel filter

[toyfarmer26]

i have a 94 7.3 idi factory turbo diesel and last night i started it up and it ran for five minutes or so and died just like someone turnd the key off and would not start back up so i got my friend to help me go through and bleed all the lines and injectors and it still would not start it was getting fuel from the tank to the filter and to the injectors and would not run so i switched tanks and it started with me going through and bleeding agian so i switched it back over to the front tank and with in 5minutes of running it did the same thing agian died like some one turned the key off so i swithced it back and blead the hole thing agian and it started and ran but missed a little until the air got out could this be a water in the fuel problem because i'am going to get a new filter tomarrow and i have drained the tank out and the fuel looks fine is there any way that i can put the new filter in with out remoweing th base plate and having to bleed it agian because i have been doing it every time it an auto trans so the dip stick is in the way so all awnsers will be thanked