I'm certainly not an engineer, [nor do I play one on TV], but something occurs to me on this that hasn't been mentioned. Perhaps the strange orientation is purposeful, to affect some insulation in the fuel lines [though pressurized] from acceleration/deceleration-induced surges front to rear? Just a thought to share, forgive me if in light of the pressurization of the system, this is irrelevant.
-- to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected]