Connecting external hardware

I'm not really sure about the question you are asking.  Creating a track in SONAR is simply finding "add (insert) an audio track" tho I can't remember where in 8.5 that is.  But I have a feeling that is not what you are asking.  And you say you know how to "mix" with it, which I think you mean you understand how to take a track out through the Gina, thought the WARm hardware and back in through the Gina and record back into SONAR.  That is merely routing, tho you'll have to set up both the GINA's mixer and SONAR's mixer.  And you have to insert a new audio track and route the processed track to it - not overwrite the existing track.  I know newer versions of SONAR have external insert but I don't think 8.5 does.
 
If you are asking about recording through the warm stuff during tracking, you'll need a preamp to bring the level of the mix output to Line level.  However, the 1176 has enough gain that can drive a mic signal to line level, although that isn't its primary function.  If you can't add a separate preamp, maybe get a small Mackie mixer etc. and use that preamp rather than the Gina's (which I assume goes preamp>converter, so you won't be doing several layers of conversion to track).

I'm pretty sure 8.5 Producer did have External Insert. Right-click an FX bin of the track to be processed to add it, select I/O channels that connect to the hardware, and click the Delay button to measure the latency for automatic compensation. To bounce/export a track/mix using external insert, you must uncheck Fast Bounce in the bounce dialog, and render in real time.
 
 

AT
...I know newer versions of SONAR have external insert but I don't think 8.5 does...

 
External Insert was first introduced in Sonar 7.