Well guys, I'm embarrassed to post this but at this point I owe it to the forum and especially those who responded here. I test fit my new stainless lines knowing they would not fit at both ends due to the previously mentioned problems and noticed that then new ones were WAY off; the top line was connected to the canister and the bottom was so far away from the fuel pump that any fuel pump change would not allow it to connect. The line appears to be symmetrical but I assure you it is not. If you're having this problem, you've got it upside down. That's right - I had it installed upside down. To the naked eye it appears that you can install the line in any orientation but I assure you, you can't. The attached photo shows the line installed and it is under more tension than I would like, but it does fit.