Yeah you have to start with a blank panel. Here is the PM I just sent Mike:

I removed the old panel by popping out each of the switches one by one, hooking them back up behind the panel so I didn't forget how they were wired. Once the panel was free I used it to make a paper template. I just moved the row of switches higher up but kept them "level" with the stock alignment. The EQ hole I just measured and kinda guessed, erroring on the side of "too small" then filed it just big enough to fit.