CrazyD. Funny you ask that because it was backwards / pointing up when I first bought the pickup which I realized the very first time I drove it and was the first thing fixed. However, That makes no difference in regards to the speedometer. The output shaft and driveshaft spin at a rate per tire diameter, diff ratio, and vehicle speed which the speedometer is driven from. What gear the transmission is in only determines the engine rpms in relation to that speed.