A tri-power neck or an OHC-6 neck will point to the passenger side if they are stuck onto a 4-BBl manifold. Bolt spacing is the same in all cases. I can't say for sure, but older Pontiac A-Body cars may have used a radiator with the upper hose on the passenger side, in which case those necks would also point the wrong way.
Sounds like you might just have the wrong water neck. The 4-Bbl. neck should be an easy junk-yard item, or you can pick up a chrome one from Summit, Jegs or PAW.
