Thanks for the replies so far, and that's a roge' on wiring the tach and fuel gauges to the ignition.
Here's the existing panel before I started disassembling.
I kinda' like the PO's idea of the FF location. It makes it easy to glance down and have the screen staring up at you. The pictured FF is already out, but I haven't decided on where my tried, trusty, and true Lowrance will go. This compass and radio are already out, never to return. ;D
I was a little puzzled with why Wellcraft had it this way. The black part of the panel is really just a thin, molded plastic finishing piece that only holds the switches on the right. The tach, fuel, and trim indicator are supported by the fiberglass 'shell' that's screwed into the cap. This piece also holds the helm. Wellcraft could've accomplished the same thing with the gauges installed flush and a small switch panel on the right side. That'd eliminate the big, chincy-looking, black plastic. But I guess some engineer or bean-counter decided that this was the way to go at the time.