nooooooooo.

Dont extract the faces off the model. You are making it worse for yourself...

Just select the faces and map them, dont extract them. Or simply do a planar projection from a single axis and select the edges that you want to separate in the uv editor. then do cut uvs. then you can start using unfold, reverse uvs and so to get them to look right, then after that you can select each uv shell and decide which ones you want to sew back together.

We have just released a UV tute on here...Its worth getting to save your pain..

Jay