Has anyone managed to hack or replace the instrument panel?

[rcx348]

My car is fitted with an early dashboard, the smaller one with a shelf in front of the passenger seat, but my instrument panel is from a later model so it doesn't fit. I can't swap the instrument panel because the early ones have different plugs.

I'm thinking of fitting a universal digital instrument panel. I've done this before on several motorbikes, but on a car there's a lot more warning lights to deal with. Has anyone managed to connect universal warning lights to the existing wiring? Is it simple, eg one wire per warning light? Any help appreciated.