I think you're right with application. If you hold the spiral cable at one end and twist it, it tries to open. If you get a reverse spiral it stays bound together, that's the one you want. The adapter can be a reverser but there is one from Summit that screws the cable in from either end. That can be a reverser or an adapter but either way is a 90 which can be very helpful.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/atm-990414/overview/
and
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sw...10-f/overview/
I run them out of the trans and do the laziest loop you can. Under the frame rail is OK if it's tied up to the bottom, above is better if it's not kinking it. I pass it through the front of the L panel and the firewall and that keeps it routed fairly straight into the 90 adapter.