Hi PJ2,
Your reference to DC8's with the systems controls up front presumably refers to Canadian Pacific or did Air Canada indulge in a similar folly? I used to service CP DC8-63's in Asia in the early 70's and noted that they had all the hydraulic controls and indicators on the Captain's panel when the standard Douglas layout had them on the F/E's panel (where every other DC8 I handled had them!). One day a CP -43 or -53 showed up in place of the usual -63 and the cockpit was a shocker. The overhead and forward panels were seriously overcrowded with all the systems stuff and the F/E's panel was nearly empty mainly having only the electrics and fuel panels. There had even been a row of repeater fuel qty indicators along the lower edge of the F/O's panel but they had been deleted and the holes blanked.
It looked a dreadful set up to me at the time.