Help with Front Struts please, keep em or change em? Options

[Gigamight]

Actual questions are in bold for those that want to skim the unimportant crap.

So I got a package deal from a guy a while back, and he said he had "almost new bilsteins, front and back." Well, installing the rears is no big deal, but I have minimal tools at my disposal, and no air tools at all, so the fronts may be different.

I have a complete rack from that 6k mile car I cut up, that seems to have great ball joints and tie rods... the works, and so I am planning on using that on my project car.

Here are the questions: First of all, are the shocks in the front just inserts inside that canister? Or is it the whole deal?

The front Bilseins are attached to the front spindle/assembly still, and the guy cut the ball joint to get them off, so I don't think I can use that, but I want to use the shocks if I can. Or, can I get that ball joint out without herculean effort?

Can I easily swap out the cartridges in the shocks? The Bilsteins were on a 75, the front suspension I am using is a 72, does that matter?

Do I even come off at all like I know what I am talking about?

I will take pics of something if that helps. just tell me what you want to see.