RE: converting from 35mm-digital
The control board which runs the camera for a digital and 35mm would have two different timings. That is, the 35mm would have the timing set to optimize the speed for that camera and the control board for digital cameras usually have a slower timing to allow the digital to focus, charge flash ect.
It would probually be not worth your wile to try and do the conversion, just start from scratch and build your own.