Custom Dash Cluster SW20

Hey everyone, first thread!! 
The names Bryce.

I've recently been looking into and designing a dash cluster that would be able to have all the gauges necessary in the actual dash cluster instead of mounting them on the pillars and such. I've got nothing against it, just not my style to have them all over the cabin.. I like things to be kept tidy, but also still give a sense of awe. 
Anyway, to the point! I've chosen all the aftermarket gauges that I would like to use. But because I would actually be replacing the stock cluster. I would need to work out a way to keep the warning lights and things like that.. Can anyone shed some light on my situation? 
I've heard a few different things like, 'Regardless of if you're replacing the whole cluster it'll still be plug and play.' And then other people saying, 'You'll need some sort of custom circuit board to wire everything up to..' Blah blah blah. Obviously it seems MUCH more logical that I would need a custom circuit board.. Or even a modified circuit board from the original cluster. But I'm just after some straight facts!! 

Any help would be highly appreciated! 

Cheers.

/Attached is a VERY rough design, just to see what it will sort of look like. 
I am aware that the speedo is a 260MPH and not KPH, but I do want the 260KPH variant and that was the only non-animated image I could find in a rush :p

Do you have a cable driven speedo or electric? If electric will it work with the speedo you wish to use?
 
The factory dash has circuits built in to it to spit out a speed signal to the power steering ECU and perhaps ABS?

I think what Widemr is saying is, the factory eng ecu and PS ecu use the speed signal from the factory speedo.  You would need to supply this signal still.

5SGTE
I think what Widemr is saying is, the factory eng ecu and PS ecu use the speed signal from the factory speedo.  You would need to supply this signal still.

Can you explain why I would still need to send that signal? You'll have to forgive me if that's a stupid question. Electrical systems are still fairly new to me, what better way to learn than to jump in head first!

Meawea
Couple of other ideas for you. 


You used to be able to get the warning lights separate, then you could make some led's to sit behind them. Might be worth emailing them if you only want the warning lights. Think you have to email them anyway to get it shipped to Australia.

Those plates would be exactly what I was after! I'll definitely be looking into it. But as they would be on the custom dash and not a standard dash. I would need to work out a way to get the LEDs working as per usual. That's my biggest problem. I just cannot seem to find a straight answer!

kameleon
The power steering requires a speed input to adjust the amount of assistance it is giving etc.

Makes perfect sense. Something I should have assumed. -_- 
So my best bet would be to make everything run through the standard circuit board?

Dude that's a sick design with all the digital stuff. Would love to see it come to fruition

WIDEMR
Do you have a cable driven speedo or electric? If electric will it work with the speedo you wish to use?
 
The factory dash has circuits built in to it to spit out a speed signal to the power steering ECU and perhaps ABS?

Over the past few days I've been in touch with the supplier of the speedometer. He said that a wire can be installed to the speedometer that can run to the ECU that will spit out a speed reading at '4000 pulses per mile and 0.5 volts' (Being an American company, they use miles). He mentioned that it will work with some cruise control systems. But didn't mention anything about the power steering assistance levels. I responded by asking about the power steering issue. Do you know anything more that might help me out in this situation? 

Thanks man! 

And not really hey.. I've spoken to someone who has done a fairly similar setup, but he has used less gauges.. Basically he replaced everything that was in the stock cluster.. Without adding any others. But, after speaking to him, I was able to understand the process a lot better. In his opinion I won't be able to get all gauges to fit in the cluster while retaining the warning lights in there original position. Having said that, there's no reason why you can't wire up some LED's to the correct warning outputs on the circuit board and then just locate the LED's else where.. As an example, on the top of the steering column where some people put there turbo timers and such. Still in plain site that way! Personally, I want to move them somewhere a little more out of the way, while still keeping them in my line of site while driving. The original circuit board is used, to keep it all fairly simple. But then, the next biggest issue, which was raised earlier in this thread, is making sure that there will be a speed output reading sent to the power steering ECU and ABS.. Things like that, I haven't had a chance to really look into it as much as I would have liked. (Things came up, meaning I've had to put this project on hold). 

When I do get it back up and running, the difference between cars makes is another thing I'll need to take into consideration. It sort of makes it a hard product to 'mass produce' so to speak.. Because of the difference in generations and even the difference in whether on not the car is a JDM Import or an Australian Delivered model. Having said that, definitely isn't something that cannot be learnt and put into practise ;) 

But, it's quite a long process and until I get a prototype up and running.. I can't really say anything final haha.
But, I'll definitely keep this thread up to date with what's happening (: