An alternative is to do what I did. I taped together some cardboard and cut out a "blank" dashboard from the aluminum one. I then "installed" it in my frame (w/ body on, of course), and literally sat there with my Sharpie and a print out of the "competition" design and made the markings, taking notice of the frame and anything else that might interfere with the gauges. I also made sure I could "see" the gauges from a normal driving position. Lastly I tried to envision the switches and made them as "user" friendly as I could. I then cut out the holes on the cardboard itself to make the transfer.
When I was happy, I took the cardboard over to the blank and transferred the holes I drew. Cut the aluminum. Done.