I needed more space between the halves and saw a youtube video where someone has opened one up a there are 15 through wires plus a ground. Digging though my box-o-cables I remembered that I had a bunch of old HD15 VGA cables that would make great extensions so I spliced HD15 ends and tried it out.
Turns out that VGA cables are not 15 lines through, but bond several pins together. Damnit. A true HD15 serial cable is now en route and I'll get to test out my extension...hopefully by this coming weekend.
RL is preventing me from playing, but it works 100% using a true HD15 (1:1 serial, not VGA) cable. Full build post TBD.