Red_Chili
Toyota Section Staffer
Reged: 08/24/01
Posts: 5986
Loc: Littleton, CO
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The old Red Chili is dead...
06/17/05 11:32 AM
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LONG LIVE THE MIGHTY RED CHILI!
(OK, you have to know what the Brits would say when a king died and a new king carried on the monarchy... like, 'the king is dead, long live the king'. Oh, nevermind...  )
Took delivery yesterday evening from Off Road Solutions, who I paid to undergo the pain rather than me. Mike really scrambled at the end, only charged me a part of the labor he had in it. Yet, it was quite a bit more than I expected. I really don't know how he turns a profit on these major, high-R&D-content jobs, ties up resources and because he is a good guy he doesn't feel good about charging full boat for what ends up being bit of an experiment.
After driving it, there are some very minor rough edges (like, way nitpicky, and more cosmetic issues than anything else, which I had told Mike I wanted to take care of anyway rather than him...). The fit and finish of Mike's work is factory quality. The exhaust is very nice. The motor mounts look factory. The trim job on the shroud is less than Van Gogh if you REALLY look close, but works very well. I have a lot of cosmetic and finish work to do, but...
Gotta tell ya, the biggest problem is facial cramps from permasmile. Ohmygoshandbygolly, the mighty Red Chili can now get out of its own way quite effectively. Power and torque everywhere. I suppose 5.29s are a little silly low, leaving first in the R151 tranny (lower also) optional, really. Well, third is optional too in city driving. Start in second, shift to fourth, drink coffee. It's not like it's geared too low exactly, the motor is never really buzzy revved, it's just that, well, .... this motor was made for a heavier truck, yet its not silly parts-breaking power like a Chebbie SB would be IMHO. With 20 fwd. speeds there will always be a gear that is just right, another that is fine, and another that will merely work.
It's just..... soooooooo...... niiiiiiiiiiiice.
Now, on to the shift tunnel and boots and shifters and pretty stuff, the hood mods, the center console, the ARB compressor put back in, this, that and the other thing..... 
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-Bill
'87 4Runner w/ '96 5VZ-FE, 'Red Chili II'
'97 Taco XtraCab 3RZ-FE, 'BlackBean'
TLCA # 13257, Rising Sun 4x4 Club Land Use Coordinator
"He who stops being better stops being good." -Oliver Cromwell
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