If you read the article I linked to, or if you want a simpler one, try this one - How to create your own vBulletin-powered page! (uses vB templates) - then you'll see you can just use the vbulletin templates to pull in the style for your page. It would be much simpler than redoing it all like you are.
I have read the article as well as the new linked to. I still cannot get the styles to pull in no matter what I do.
I simply want to restrict access to a group of web pages in a directory to a select group of forum members. That's all.
The task of trying to integrate vBulletins permissions system based upon the examples you've cited are beyond my comprehension and more advanced than I really need.
Thanks anyways. I guess I'm just going to move on and leave this project on the backburner.