Mechanical to Electronic Speedo conversion: Is it worth it?

So to start off this discussuion, I'll give you the dilemma. I own a 96 Tacoma with a 3.4 which came from the factory with no tach. It's a small problem to some, and to others it irritates the crap out of them. I am one of the latter.
The solution: Well, I guess really there are a few options I have seen. Some will say to add in an aftermarket tach or get an ultra guage or something similar, and while that is effective, I am trying to a stick with a "close to factory" look for the interior so for me, these options really don't appeal. This narrows it down to three options of which I'm aware.

1) Find a factory cluster with a mechanical speedo and tach from the same engine and transmission type as your own.

While this is obviously the easiest method, these clusters are hard to find, and when you do the are either damaged and scratched to pieces, and/or the owner wants a fortune for them i.e. $200+ from what I have seen. Anything cheaper than that and they're gone in 5 minutes.

2) Take a factory electronic cluster with a tach, and modify it to accept a mechanical speedo.

This option is looking pretty good, but I didn't even know it was doable until I ran across this thread a few days ago:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1s...tory-looking-tach-install-96-4cyl-tacoma.html
The finished product looked great, and I believe this is about the most cost effective method. The downside of it is reworking the back of the cluster with the correct wiring to make it happen. Also, I was a little confused of how he moved it all and wether the scale of the original speedo face would be the equivalent of the new one since he used the internals of the mechanical cluster with the electronic cluster face. But again, at prices as cheap as $50 on a used electronic cluster, this option looks pretty appealing.

3) Convert the truck to an electronic signal using the marlin crawler adapter and wire it to accept a factory electronic cluster. http://www.marlincrawler.com/transfer-case/parts-upgrade/vehicle-speed-sensor-mci

With this option you actually use the speed sensor adapter to create an electronic speed signal from your factory mechanical speedo drive gear. This option would be, I suppose, the correct way to convert it. And in theory it should be no more than running a few wires and presto! Electric speed signals for your new cluster! This is where it gets tricky. With this setup there is also some wiring, and with the cost of the wires and supplies, and the speed sensor, and the cluster. So unless you're getting some crazy deal on the cluster, this puts you within a few clams of just buying the factory mechanical cluster.

Now on the bright side from a money standpoint, with options 1 and 3 you do have the advantage of being able to sell the old cluster to recoupe some of your money. With 2 you can't since youre hacking up both to make a frakencluster So that brings us to the questions and the discussion:

Which option woul you choose?

Why did you pick that option?

What are your thoughts on the swap/work/price tag involved?

Has anyone completed these or any other swaps similar in order to acheive the stock cluster with a tack?

If so, how did it go? ( and tell us how you like it)

I know I'm not the only one thats been in this seat, so throw in your .02!
Thanks!!

 

Monday bump!

 

Just wondering what you did here? I just called Marlin Crawlers and they said they don't have a product that works with the transfer case my vehicle has (1997 Taco). I was wondering if there is some sort of converter that I could attach to the transfer case/gear/assembly and then just pull the connections and cluster from an electronic year, replace the cluster in my truck, and run wires back to the sensor/sensor adapter on the T case...

 

you could potentially just read the mileage off the computer. Now connecting the computer to a digital speedo would be the only dilemma. I guess if you have the cluster, figure out how to connect to the onboard computer, which keeps track of the mileage anyway... just my 2 pennies

 

Yeah I have a digital really like the scan gauge. But, that relied upon the gear. The computer on this vintage gets its info from that little gear too. Of course the only product Toyota is able to help with is the 31T that it came with from the factory. Lol