Rachel,

You are most certainly correct on this subject.

Here is a bizare example---

After Powell Crosley gave up manufactering vehicles in the early 50's,
he sold all his remaining engnes to a boat manufacter called Fagol.

Now Fagol had an off the wall idea and they stood the engines straight
up and down, hooking the bell housing to a lower drive unit that went
out the bottom of the hull, just in front of transom of the boat.

Where would the front of the engine be in this case?

The valve bonnet?

Nope---the front is the front is the front----
The end with the harmonic balancer, always.

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Terry--
74 Campmobile- (Clementine)
85 GL- (Delilah)
86 BMW 325 ES- (Eva)