"After further review, we have a reversal".

It seems my memory is not as sharp as it once was. After calling a couple ex co-workers, I now believe the fuel/brake lines had undercoating on them.

In Trim, the body was hanging from the carrier and it was easier to install them.

In Chassis dept. the car would be moving down the line on a conveyor with its wheels/tires on. Having to fish the lines between the wheels to someone in a pit would have been problematic.

Plus I looked at my old pics of cars before resto and it proved what you said.
So bottom line, I can't trust my memory.
The feathers sticking out of my mouth are from Black crow.