engine assembly

I am assembling a 1996 3800 series 2 engine. I always thought that the tangs on the rods went to the outside of the block. but when you go by the old ones the even side goes to the outside and the odd ones go to the inside. my question is how do the pistons go back in the engine? there are no actual notches on the piston to go buy.

Looks like you didn't mark anything here, right. If the rod and cap are numbered of course the numbers go together. By the tangs do you mean the locking grooves for the rod bearing? Any numbers on the rods would face the outside of the block. Also looking at the rod/cap chamfer on the outside of the assy, the larger chamfer always goes to the outside crank journal cheek.