RE: Running engine backwards
Yes, pusher props will work on the counter rotating engine in a twin setup. That was what I going to do with a gasser setup for a friend's P-61 project, but he decided to go the conventional route and adjust the thrust angle to compensate.
The main concern with CW running an engine is usually loosening of the right-hand threaded crankshaft. You can solve that by using red Loctite. IF the engine is a short shaft (both Poulan 46 and Homie 45 are) then you can always tap the prop bolt (or stud) with a RH thread so you can put a regular spinner nut on it. Personally, I would keep the prop shaft the same LH thread for better prop retension, as it is much more important than how to attach a spinner. You can always figure a way to do that.