Here is the diagram for the cylinder order for a 2005-on V8 4.4L gas engine:



Trouble is, it doesn't say which end is the front of the engine, and I can't seem to figure out for sure. So, are cynlinders 7 and 8 towards the firewall, with 1 and 2 towards the radiator, or the other way around?

 

Radiator is front. Firewall is rear. Front of the vehicle is front for everything.

 

Okay, I know that the radiator is at the front and the firewall is at the rear, but neither the radiator nor the firewall are shown in the diagram. As such, I don't know if the view displayed in the diagram is that of a person standing at the front of the vehicle looking down on the engine, or the view from the driver's seat.

So let me ask it this way: is the BOTTOM of this diagram (cyl. 1 & 2) the FRONT of the vehicle?

 

Yes - 1 & 2 is the front of the engine. When the engine is sitting straight, (facing the headlights), the front will always be the very front of the engine bay. When the engine is sitting sideways, (facing the fenders), the front will always be the side not connected to the transmission.