Not sure if all LA .40's are the same, but on mine, the little black plastic fuel inlet nipple on the side of the carb can be rotated. It appears to be pressed in...not threaded. The way I found that out is because I got it as a gift...but the remote needle was missing. I wanted to see if I could install a new N.V. right in the carb body...but nope.

So...if yours is the same as mine...you could turn the carb 180 degrees and then rotate the fuel nipple so it still points rearward.