Thank you for the kind thought, I would have enjoyed meeting you! I got out of the shop around 13:30 so the whole process was done in four hours!
Wow! That’s amazingly fast! That’s alright, (about meeting up), maybe next time you’re down here.....
I was in town for Thanksgiving, my schedule was very tight, Rather than wait three or four days, I chose to get a rebuilt 2008 engine they had in stock. Cesar and I made arrangements in advance, so I showed up at 7am to have George work on my engine immediately. I brought along some parts to help speed up the transfer: water pump, spark plugs, thermostat, PCV, serpentine belt. I wandered around the neighborhood and discovered JK Electronics down the block. What a treat! I was at Art Supply Warehouse at 1:30 when I got a text message that the car was ready. Freshly power washed and $1650 lighter, I pulled out of the driveway and headed to my in-laws in Pasadena. 500 miles later everything looks good. The drive home was super smooth. I'm thinking that I may replace the ICE of my 2006 next Thanksgiving!
You don't hear stories like yours on Prius Chat very often. Hope you get many trouble free miles out of your new engine,
30,000 Miles later....The engine seemed like it started burning some oil... then covid hit and I didn't drive for a year. I'm back on the road, the Hybrid911 folks suggested using a heavier oil or adding Lucas oil treatment. The Lucas seems to help... and I'm generous with the Marvel Mystery Oil in the gas. It's 240 018 and I'm about to drive from California to Massachusetts. That adventure is covered in this other thread: Origin story: 16 years later | PriusChat