How would I go about this? Here is my current code (Omitted any that has nothing to with the direction of the block)

 

    private Icon field_94458_cO;
    private Icon field_94459_cP;
    
public MyBlock(int ID) {
	super(ID, Material.iron);
	this.setCreativeTab(CreativeTabs.tabBlock);
}


    /**
     * set a blocks direction
     */
    private void setDefaultDirection(World par1World, int par2, int par3, int par4)
    {
        if (!par1World.isRemote)
        {
            int l = par1World.getBlockId(par2, par3, par4 - 1);
            int i1 = par1World.getBlockId(par2, par3, par4 + 1);
            int j1 = par1World.getBlockId(par2 - 1, par3, par4);
            int k1 = par1World.getBlockId(par2 + 1, par3, par4);
            byte b0 = 3;

            if (Block.opaqueCubeLookup[l] && !Block.opaqueCubeLookup[i1])
            {
                b0 = 3;
            }

            if (Block.opaqueCubeLookup[i1] && !Block.opaqueCubeLookup[l])
            {
                b0 = 2;
            }

            if (Block.opaqueCubeLookup[j1] && !Block.opaqueCubeLookup[k1])
            {
                b0 = 5;
            }

            if (Block.opaqueCubeLookup[k1] && !Block.opaqueCubeLookup[j1])
            {
                b0 = 4;
            }

            par1World.setBlockMetadataWithNotify(par2, par3, par4, b0, 2);
        }
    }

    public void onBlockPlacedBy(World par1World, int par2, int par3, int par4, EntityLiving par5EntityLiving, ItemStack par6ItemStack)
    {
        int l = MathHelper.floor_double((double)(par5EntityLiving.rotationYaw * 4.0F / 360.0F) + 0.5D) & 3;

        if (l == 0)
        {
            par1World.setBlockMetadataWithNotify(par2, par3, par4, 2, 2);
        }

        if (l == 1)
        {
            par1World.setBlockMetadataWithNotify(par2, par3, par4, 5, 2);
        }

        if (l == 2)
        {
            par1World.setBlockMetadataWithNotify(par2, par3, par4, 3, 2);
        }

        if (l == 3)
        {
            par1World.setBlockMetadataWithNotify(par2, par3, par4, 4, 2);
        }

        if (par6ItemStack.hasDisplayName())
        {
            ((TileEntityFurnace)par1World.getBlockTileEntity(par2, par3, par4)).func_94129_a(par6ItemStack.getDisplayName());
        }
    }

    
@Override
    public void registerIcons(IconRegister par1IconRegister)
    {
        this.blockIcon = par1IconRegister.registerIcon("et:blockSides");
        this.field_94459_cP = par1IconRegister.registerIcon("et:blockFront");
        this.field_94458_cO = par1IconRegister.registerIcon("et:blockTop");
    }


    public Icon getBlockTextureFromSideAndMetadata(int par1, int par2)
    {
        return par1 == 1 ? this.field_94458_cO : (par1 == 0 ? this.field_94458_cO : (par1 != par2 ? this.blockIcon : this.field_94459_cP));
    }
    
    public void onBlockAdded(World par1World, int par2, int par3, int par4)
    {
        super.onBlockAdded(par1World, par2, par3, par4);
        this.setDefaultDirection(par1World, par2, par3, par4);
    }

That depends... When do you need this information?

It's possible but depending on when you need the info and what you want to based upon it, you probably need a TileEntity to store, check and update the information

Well actually that brings up a 2nd thing I need. I can't seem to locate the method for blocks for when they are activated by redstone. I need that.

 

To answer you first question, I need to find out what direction my block is facing when it is powered by redstone. I just make my block extend TileEntity instead of block to make it a tile entity correct?

No a TileEntity is a whole different file.

A TileEntity can hold huge ammounts of data and execute internal logic every update.

I suggest you go do some searcing on TilEntitys aswell as opening some to see how they work.

I.e: TileEntityFurnace and BlockFurnace -see how they work

 

A block can't hold more than it's metadata of information, most of the time a block can't even reffer to it's location inn the world.

TileEntitys is what makes chests, furnaces and workbenches work

So start reading up on them