This one is easy! 1.6 skins don't work in 1.8. The skins for 1.6 work with only that version. There have been quite a few changes to skins between 1.6 and 1.8, so answering this specific question is still going to leave you with a TON of questions over time. Having said that:

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Unfortunately no one has written a "1.6 to 1.8" guide, or upgraded existing skins, but http://manual.b2evolution.net/Upgrade_Skin_from_0.9.2_to_1.8 might get you going in the right direction.