The resistor wire is not related to the steering column shifter lighting. What lights the steering column shifter is a fiber optic cable that collects light from one of the instrument cluster illumination bulbs. Here is a picture of what it looks like,
from a post by LockDoc
I don't know about aftermarket instrument clusters or how they are illuminated. If it uses a 194 bulb in a twist lock socket, then all you would have to do is use the original style bulb holder and connect it to the fiber optic cable that is probably hanging loose under your dash. As an alternative you could probably connect a light bulb and get it glowing in the original bulb holder and run the fiber optic cable to it, and put the assembly in a small metal project box or metal bandaid box somewhere under the dash.