Interesting. I don't remember ever seeing one with a bend like that. If it wasn't made that way, seems like it took a hit in either shipping, or inside the tank.
Any dents in the bottom of the tank you can see?
The filters do slip fit over the tube fairly snug, but I believe from the factory they were also glued. The originals did not come off willingly, and many are still in place today.
Yours even looks a little different than I'm used to seeing. Not familiar with the "sleeve" coming out of the end. Usually it's just a hole in the end of the filter itself.
They're still available new, in two sizes. The larger 3/8" was used in larger engine vehicles, and as far as I know all EB's got the smaller 5/16" size. At least the ones I've seen. Nothing says that's etched in stone though. Maybe '77's were different, or there were variations.
Paul