Swapping IF and LO inputs to a mixer?

I’m building a simple frequency converter to learn more about RF components and how they behave in the real world. I’m planning to put an L-band signal (1.4-1.7 GHz) and VCO (136-174 MHz) into a mixer and look at the resulting harmonics and distortion on a SpecAn, then filter it a few different ways and demodulate the resulting signals.

The mixer I selected has an IF input between 10-1500 MHz and LO input from 500-3500 MHz. To fit in these frequency limits, I’d have to put the IF signal into the LO port and the VCO signal into the IF port. Will this still produce the desired results, or is the mixer circuit designed a specific way that these inputs can’t be swapped?

Assuming that’s fine, how should I handle the power levels? The mixer datasheet specifies a 13 dBm LO input, and typically the IF is 10dB below that. For my swapped input, should my VCO power still be 13 dBm (into the mixer IF) and IF signal 3 dBm (into the mixer LO)? Or should I swap the powers too, so the IF signal into the LO port is 23 dBm to be above the IF port input?

Edit: the issue seems to be solved (picked a different component that works within our frequency range), but I’m still interested in learning more about how mixers work!