picked up a clean shortblock from my neighbor for a good price looking into what i need to do to rebuild it and get it ready to drop into my '78
come to find out the damn pistons and rods are unmarked and in a cardboard box... now the pistons are new but the rods are not... would it be simpler just to get new connecting rods or is there a simpler alternative?

If you have access to a scale that is exact up to the second or third digit after the decimal point you can weigh each one and write it down. Match each rod with a piston that will give you the closest total weight to the others. In other words, each rod and piston set needs to weigh the same as the other 7 sets. (I assume its a V8)

ouch... i just assume buyin some new forged rods :) but thanks for the input

Match each rod with a piston that will give you the closest total weight to the others. This should work. OUCH? You'd still have to do it anyway with new rods, you see your not balancing the entire rotating assembly, thats why. Anyway, you'll be saying "ouch" when you pay for those forged rods you'll be buying. You more than likely do not need forged rods anyway, unless your gooing to use a large shot of nitrous, turbocharge or supercharge your motor. Have the original rods checked by a competent machine shop and have them press the new pistons on.

it seems i'm repeatedly getting myself in over my head with this car :p i'll have to find a machine shop in the area :)

Connecting rods not piston rods and the cylinder they go in is not specific. Just make sure the radius faces the crank throw. Also check to make sure when the rod is correctly installed that the piston is facing the correct way. I've seen engines assembled with one bank all facing backwards. Stock cast rods are good to 450HP with no problems as long as they are mag'd first and throw some new rod bolts on them.

if posting this picture works, what is your opinion of this piston... this is the condition of most of them

http://home.comcast.net/~mpike1781/piston.jpg

Whatever way you go, old pistons/rods or new pistons/rods you will still new some machine work (honing, piston fitting, balancing, etc.) so I would suggest you take everything to a machine shop and get their opinion.

I don't know if your neighbor did you any big favors. It appears that engine (I'm assuming it's a 350) is already at .060 over. If you have to bore it further, you're already pushing the limit.
(I know I will probably catch some flak for that statement from someone who knows someone who bored a 350 two inches and drove it a bzillion miles.)